Plainfield Fire District Offers 4th of July Safety Tips

The Plainfield Fire Protection District is urging everyone to enjoy the Independence Day holiday safely by leaving the “fireworks show” to the professionals.

Most consumer fireworks are illegal in Illinois including, but not limited to, handheld fireworks, bottle rockets, firecrackers of any size/type, sky rockets, roman candles, chasers, buzz bombs, helicopters, missiles, pinwheels, planes, sky lanterns and ground items that are not on the allowed consumer fireworks list, the PFPD said in a news release.

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Consumer fireworks that are allowed in Illinois include mines, comets, tubes, shells fancy floral and parachutes provided these items contain a maximum of 40 grams of chemical composition and no more than 20 grains of lift charge.

Cones including showers of sparks, fountains and repeaters along with single tube fountains must not contain more than 75 grams total of pyrotechnic composition. Cone fountains must not contain more than 50 grams total of pyrotechnic composition.

Multiple-tube fountains must not contain more than 200 grams total of pyrotechnic composition.

Sparklers, which are legal in Illinois, burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. A lit sparkler can cause a serious burn, and can also set clothing, decks, grass and mulch on fire. Don’t run around with lit sparklers and do not use them while standing on a wooden deck or other combustible material. Always have a bucket of sand available to dispose of used sparklers.

Remember the following safety tips when celebrating with fireworks:

• If your clothing catches on fire, stop, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames and put the fire out.

• Keep a charged garden hose nearby to extinguish any small fire that could develop in grass or mulch.

• Never allow children to play with fireworks.

• Cool burns with cool water and seek medical attention.

• Never try to relight any fireworks that appear to not work.

For more fire and life safety information, call the Plainfield Fire Protection District at 815-436- 5335 ext 7314. You may also visit the district online.