Officials and residents prepare for illegal fireworks displays ahead of first post-shutdown Fourth of July
The pandemic didn’t stop Chicagoans from celebrating the
Now as the city has reopened and more people will be out to show their patriotism or simply to celebrate after a year lost to the shutdown, there are concerns that even more amateur fireworks shows could lead to lost fingers or worse.
So far this year, there doesn’t appear to have been an uptick in illegal fireworks. From
The city is also back to holding its own show. The official
Despite the decrease in illegal fireworks calls, there have been problems. Dr.
“We actually have had more injuries prior to the
Grevious said many of the children admitted to the hospital for burns came due to holding sparklers, which typically burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
“We get adults who are handling these fireworks, which are illegal, sometimes alcohol plays a part in it. They’re celebrating and they lose the perspective of the dangers,” Schroeder said. “It’s the thought process that this isn’t going to happen to me.”
“Please leave fireworks to the professionals. If you have to light it, leave it alone,” Schroeder said. “The potential of something happening is too great. Firework injuries are preventable.”
People who wish to turn in illegal fireworks can take them to a police station to have them disposed, Schroeder said.
“If residents report suspected illegal possession of fireworks in their neighborhood, we will respond and investigate accordingly,” the statement said.
Joe Zaradich IV, a manager of
“Last year because of the cancellation of the shows, we saw an increase as well,” Zaradich said.
There is a shortage in fireworks because the pandemic caused a slowdown in manufacturing, Zaradich said. His store ordered double what it did last year. A third of the store’s order has yet to arrive.
“The good thing is that the product we didn’t get yet will get here after (the
Washington said the council sent an email to the
“It’s so goofy and stupid people are popping it in the middle of the day. You can’t see nothing when people are popping that stuff in the middle of the afternoon,” he said. “We just gotta get back to people respecting their neighbors.”
In other areas of the city, illegal fireworks haven’t been as much of an issue but remain a concern.
Last year, Block Club Chicago and
“Last year, they were definitely out there, doing a lot of fireworks,” she said. “It’s dangerous to the person of course, but as a resident and homeowner it’s concerning because the sparks can fly onto a roof. ... I don’t think they should celebrate it in a way that makes us less safe.”
Wortham said she likes to sit outside and watch when people are igniting fireworks just to make sure nothing goes wrong and that someone can act quickly if it does. The police and
“If you look at the priority calls, it’s shots fired calls and firework calls. You know how that goes,” she said. “They respond as they can, but they have to get there, and obviously, especially on a holiday weekend, they’re going to get a lot of calls that aren’t related to fireworks and related to actual violent crimes.”
Twitter @paigexfry
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