Fireworks may be a summer holiday tradition, but the fact is that they are a type of explosive and are dangerous. They may be thrilling to look at when they light up the night sky, but they can cause serious injury and devastating property damage, especially in the hands of non-professionals.
Pennsylvania loosened its restrictions on fireworks purchases in 2017, allowing residents to buy some more powerful items that were not permitted before. The state fire commissioner said that ever since, incidents and complaints have been on the rise, and he wants state lawmakers to consider some revisions to the law.
He’s right.
Ever since Pennsylvania passed legislation to allow the purchase of Class C fireworks, such as roman candles and bottle rockets, incidents have increased. In addition to injuries caused by the fireworks, local police departments have been getting more complaints about the noise from the explosives and the late hour in which they are ignited. Some citizens have complained the fireworks scare their pets and young children, and often they are ignited too close to homes.
Local fire departments also have voiced concerns about fires from errant fireworks. In a recent case in Wilkes-Barre, a family of eight lost their home when an aerial firework landed on their back porch and set the home ablaze.
Under current law, fireworks cannot be set off on public or private property without the owner’s permission. They can’t be launched from or toward a vehicle or building. They can’t be set off within 150 feet of a building. And they can’t be discharged by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Some lawmakers want to repeal the law that allowed the purchase of Class C fireworks, but there seems little support for such a move. Thus it seems the genie is out of the bottle when it comes to fireworks purchases in the state.
State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego wants lawmakers to work with fire departments across the state to develop a better safety plan for the use of fireworks.
Given the lack of appetite for turning back the clock, there are some revisions that could help. State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, who has been pushing for a repeal of the current law, said at the very least the police should be able to confiscate unused fireworks when they are investigating a complaint about their use. He said under current law, there’s little police can do unless they actually witness someone improperly using fireworks. The property should be returned once the investigation is completed, but in the meantime, the unused fireworks could be shelved.
Also, a poke in the pocket makes sense. Penalties and fines for repeat offenders should be boosted.
The bottom line is that tougher restrictions that acknowledge the real safety concerns associated with fireworks must be considered. Lawmakers should hear the concerns of local police and fire officials and act to toughen the rules on the use of fireworks and the penalties for their misuse.
First Published: July 31, 2021, 4:00 a.m.
