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Fire Chief: Leave "Big Bang Boom" to the Professionals
Things could change in an instant, and that's exactly why Galesburg's Fire Chief is reminding residents to be cautious while celebrating Independence Day. Chief John Cratty says people need to be careful when handling and setting off fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July, since many of the fireworks are extremely dangerous, which is a reason why most are illegal in Illinois.

Cratty says there are three classes of fireworks: novelty, which are sparklers and smoke bombs; consumer fireworks, which need certificates and a training program to buy; and then professional fireworks, which are the ones set off at festivals or baseball games.

Cratty tells WGIL even the temperature of sparklers are extremely dangerous if not used properly. "You've got boiling hot water at 212 (degrees), baking a cake at 350 degrees, wood-burning at 575, glass melting at 900 degrees, and sparklers burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit," Cratty said. "Those are legal, and you can hand one to a five-year old and say, 'go have a good time.' To me, that just doesn't make sense."

Cratty says the fire department works every year with retailers in the area to discuss what they can sell to the public to provide them with proper information so the fire department doesn't have to confiscate any kind of firework that may be illegal.

He says despite all the precautions people take and all the regulations in place the department is still called out to investigate firework complaints every year.
07 03 09 by Newsroom
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