Hey, Lemont: New Fireworks Laws Are in Effect for 2013

State and local fire experts are reminding Illinois residents to leave fireworks to the professionals this Fourth of July.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the National Fire Protection Association recommend that people attend a professional fireworks display on July 4 to ensure a safe holiday.

• Consumer fireworks, which include such items as fountains, repeaters and parachutes;

Both types of displays are only permitted in villages, municipalities and counties that have passed ordinances allowing such displays.

It's important to note that several well-known types of fireworks, such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, are not allowed in Illinois under the new regulations.

Novelty fireworks, such as snakes, sparklers, and party-poppers, are not regulated by the state, although municipalities have the authority to enact an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of sparklers on public property.

While legal, sparklers present a serious danger because of the high temperature of the wire during and after its use. Sparklers burn at temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit (982 degrees Celsius) and remain extremely hot long after the sparks have stopped. Many children are injured each year by sparklers. Children playing with novelty fireworks must be closely supervised by adults to prevent injury.