Fourth of July 2018: Greendale Illegal Fireworks Violation Costly

GREENDALE, WI — As Fourth of July approaches, the Village of Greendale is reminding residents to follow state and local laws regarding the purchase and use of fireworks, as well as to exercise extreme caution. Only very specific consumer fireworks are allowed within the city.

Greendale Village ordinances state:

No person may possess or use fireworks within the Village without a user's permit from the Village Clerk-Treasurer. In this section, "fireworks" means anything manufactured, processed or packaged for exploding, emitting sparks or combustion which does not have another common use, but does not include the following:

• Fuel or a lubricant.
• A firearm cartridge or shotgun shell.
• A flare used or possessed or sold for use as a signal in an emergency or in the operation of a railway, aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicle.
• A match, cigarette lighter, stove, furnace, candle, lantern or space heater.
• A cap containing not more than 1/4 grain of explosive mixture, if the cap is used, or possessed or sold for use in a device which prevents direct bodily contact with a cap when it is in place for explosion.
• A toy snake which contains no mercury.
• A model rocket engine.
• Tobacco and a tobacco product.
• A sparkler on a wire or wood stick not exceeding 36 inches in length or 1/4 inch in outside diameter which does not contain magnesium, chlorate or perchlorate.
• A device designed to spray out paper confetti or streamers and which contains less than 1/4 grain of explosive mixture.
• A device designed to produce an audible sound but not explode, spark, move or emit an external flame after ignition and which does not exceed three grams in total weight.
• A device that emits smoke with no external flame and does not leave the ground.
• A cylindrical fountain not exceeding 100 grams in total weight with an inside tube diameter not exceeding 3/4 inch designed to sit on the ground and emit only sparks and smoke.
• A cone fountain not exceeding 75 grams in total weight designed to sit on the ground and emit only sparks and smoke.

And if citations are issued, they are costly: The illegal sale of fireworks in Greendale is $187. The fine for the illegal use, possession or discharge of illegal fireworks in Greendale is $281.

Safety First
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2015, about 11,900 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks. Sixty-seven percent of these estimated injuries occurred in a one-month special study period (June 19, 2015 – July 19, 2015) around July 4. Most of the injuries involved hands and fingers, the head (including face, eyes, and ears), legs and arms. Children under the age of 15 years old accounted for 38 percent of the estimated injuries. Fireworks should be used only with extreme caution. Older children should be closely supervised, and younger children should not be allowed to play with fireworks, including sparklers.

The CPSC recommends that people follow these safety tips when using fireworks:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Image Via Shutterstock