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Firefighter: Don't Worry About Buying Own Fireworks
The law has made it hard for residents to have certain types of fireworks, even on Independence Day; but to hear a Galesburg Fire Department official tell it, why bother having fireworks at all.

Galesburg Fire Department Captain Dan Foley says most fireworks are illegal, but there's a certain class that's been developed under the law that's not -- called consumer fireworks.

Foley tells the WGIL Morning News they're the type of fireworks that don't shoot up, but cause plenty of sparks. However, why even waste your time.

"You might as well forget about them...because it's very difficult to actually legally shoot off consumer fireworks," Foley said. "But [the state] opened this category just for folks who wanted to legally shoot off something more than a snake or sparkler. But, in order to do it, you have to get a $30 permit from the City of Galesburg. We have to inspect the site where you're going to do it."

Foley says that's in addition to the person selling you the fireworks having a license to do so anyway.

Foley says he hasn't heard of anyone in Galesburg in the four years the ordinance has been in effect, legally shooting off such fireworks.

Officials even advise against using sparklers anyway, because they can burn to temperatures hotter than your oven, approximately 1,200 degrees.
07 04 11 by Newsroom
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