Chief of Police Daniel Meyers and the Village of Montgomery would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the use of fireworks. With the Fourth of July approaching, many people will attend one of the many professional fireworks displays, but many still will also have their own displays.
These non-professional displays are illegal and not nearly as safe as the professional displays.
“The number one problem is people are unaware of the dangers of fireworks,” said Chief Daniel Meyers. “Sparklers can reach 2000 degrees. That is hot enough to melt some metals.”
According to Meyers, sparklers are the No. 1 cause of injuries related to fireworks, with bottle rockets being the No. 2 cause. According to 2010 statistics from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, about 8,600 people were treated in emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks, with children and young adults accounting for more than half of the fireworks-related injuries. Most fireworks injuries are burns to the hands and face. Hearing and vision damage also occur.
In Illinois, only certain fireworks are legal, such as smoke pellets, smoke grenades, glow snakes and sparklers. Hand-held fireworks, bottle rockets, roman candles, buzz bombs and sky rockets are illegal without a license.
In spite of all of this, many people will make the trip to other states to buy fireworks and bring them back to Illinois.
The extreme heat and dry conditions, lack of precipitation, low relative humidity has caused the grass and vegetation to become highly combustible. The Police Department will be out enforcing the Local Ordinances and State Laws, making arrests for those caught possessing and using Illegal Fireworks in the Village. Due to the elevated drought conditions the Chief of Police hopes that all residents take this very seriously.