Police and retailers want a fun, safe fireworks use on July 4
A little over one year after Pennsylvania made even more fireworks legal, law enforcement and retailers want everyone to enjoy the holiday safely.
Even though consumer-grade fireworks became legal in Pennsylvania at the end of 2017, there are still laws that still need followed, police said.
Fireworks must be Class C consumer grade, and should never be set off under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They also can鈥檛 be set off within 150 feet of a house or other structure, whether it鈥檚 occupied or not, said Connellsville police Cpl. Bryan Kendi.
鈥淓verything is so close to each other in Connellsville, it鈥檚 pretty hard to set off those consumer-grade fireworks with houses so close by,鈥� said Kendi.
Every year, he said, police receive noise and safety complaints on and around July 4. They address them on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on letting residents enjoy their holiday legally and safely, according to Kendi.
鈥淭he police try to be as understanding as possible when it comes to people shooting off fireworks on the Fourth,鈥� Kendi said.
However, if someone is caught setting off the large, professional mortars in their backyard with houses nearby, it鈥檚 not going to be a slap on the wrist.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a chance they could be prosecuted,鈥� Kendi said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have no tolerance for big fireworks, and we鈥檙e going to take issue with alcohol use involving fireworks. There鈥檚 potential for problems.鈥�
鈥淵ou hear about people losing a hand or losing an eye, and it鈥檚 not worth it,鈥� he said.
Nancey Hess, a family member helping out at B&D Fireworks in Monessen, said many of the questions they鈥檝e received following the 2017 change in law deal with how to correctly set off the fireworks.
鈥淭hey want to make sure they鈥檙e doing it correctly and safely, which we help them with,鈥� Hess said. 鈥淲e want them to have a fun and safe holiday.鈥�
Hess said around the middle of June, business at the family-owned store started to pick up and has not stopped since.
She added that the big sellers this year are artillery shells that are shot out of mortars, various assortments of fireworks, finale cakes and sky lanterns. They鈥檝e also seen an uptick in sales of gender-reveal fireworks and wedding sparklers, she said.