Dreshertown Plaza Fireworks Tent a Legal Operation

The big white tent selling fireworks outside the Dreshertown Shop n Bag is completely legal, according to Upper Dublin Township officials and a Patch investigation.

After we ran a story detailing how the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office released a reminder for residents that many fireworks are illegal, a number of Patch readers mailed in to decry the stand.

“Maybe the township should take the high road and not let those clowns sell fireworks in Upper Dublin,” said one reader.

“Allowing them to have these tents... is showing people mixed messages that they are OK to buy. Then, when someone gets hurt it becomes a problem, when in fact they shouldn't be allowed to have them,” said another.

However, the truth of the matter is that some fireworks are illegal, and others are just fine, according to Greg Breyer, Upper Dublin Director of Fire Services. And the fireworks at this particular tent are legal for both sale and use.

“The products that are for sale at the Dresher Shopping Center are considered consumer fireworks, which are permitted to be sold in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Breyer said. “A permit for this use was applied for, and issued, in compliance with state and applicable laws.”

According to state law, legal fireworks are “sparklers, toy pistols, or other devices in which paper caps are used which contain .25 grains or less of explosive compound, and are constructed so that the hand cannot come into contact with the cap when in place for the explosion.”

Popular items that are explicitly illegal are "firecrackers, pinwheels, torpedoes, jumping jacks, skyrockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial fireworks, blockbusters and cherry bombs,” according to the DA’s release.

A Patch employee visited the tent without offering identification, and specifically inquired whether any firecrackers, aerial fireworks or roman candles, were available, and received a “no” response. When pressed further, an employee stated that those fireworks were illegal.

Some of the items for sale advertised that they contained 50 mg of combustible material, or the “maximum allowed by law,” as the packaging advertised, but these items fall within legal restrictions.

In addition, Breyer says that officials routinely visit the tent to make sure regulations are followed.

“Some of requirements that have been met include, but are not limited to the following: a successful life safety inspection through the Fire Marshal’s Office (which includes verifying the products delivered are consistent with the shipping papers and meet the criteria of consumer fireworks), a representative of the operator remains on site 24 hours a day, fire extinguishers are located at the site, and a emergency preparedness review between Township Officials and the Operators was conducted,” Breyer said. “In addition to performing the initial life safety inspection, our fire marshal has made numerous site visits, which occur at varying dates and times.”

Breyer stated that they would continue to visit the tent through the conclusion of business on July 5.

For more information about fireworks regulations, as well as pictures of what is legal and illegal, please visit the media section of this article.