O'Fallon approves fireworks ordinance

For those with a flair for the flare, an excitement for the explosion, the city of O’Fallon wants you to know that although fireworks are legal in St. Charles County, they are illegal within the city of O’Fallon—unless you obtain a permit from City Hall.

The O’Fallon City Council is enacting an amended ordinance to be approved just in time for Fourth of July festivities. According to the new amendments, if you want to shoot off fireworks in the city of O’Fallon, you need approval from your neighborhood association and the O’Fallon Fire Department, and a permit issued at City Hall. 

“Get an OK from the Fire Department and a permit from the city,” said O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy. “It’s my understanding that the Fire Department will take a look at where you will shoot the fireworks and determine how safe that area is prior to issuing a permit.”

Councilman Pierce Conley said the new ordinance adds two new layers of approval, making it more difficult for those who shoot fireworks. 

“In the past you had to go to City Hall, but there were issues whether City Hall would issue permits to an individual,” Conley said. “It’s adding a layer of enforcement for something the council is concerned about.”

If you shoot, make it legal

The National Council on Fireworks Safety reminds you that if you plan to shoot fireworks, purchase them from a licensed store or stand.

“Never buy firework devices from an individual’s house, or out of someone’s car.

Such fireworks are likely to be illegal explosives that can seriously injure you,” Council officials said.

Consumer fireworks regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are identifiable by their brightly-color packages with safety warnings on the packaging. The packaging sets forth the country of origin, which is normally China. Typical consumer fireworks include fountains, cones, sparklers, fire crackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, ground spinners and multi-shot products.

Illegal explosives are often unpackaged and are wrapped with plain brown paper. They are unlikely to have any safety warnings, or place of manufacture. Many of them are hand made in illicit factories and other unsafe environments. They may go by names such as M80, Quarter Stick or Cherry Bomb. If someone approaches you to sell one of these illegal explosives, politely decline and then call your local police department.

National Fireworks Group Urges Caution with Sparklers

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 16 percent of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, with the majority of sparkler injuries occurring to young children.

Sparkler injuries accounted for one-third of all firework injuries to children ages 5 years or younger. These are injuries that would not have occurred if there had been close adult supervision and if some basic safety steps had been taken.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these safety steps for sparklers, in the hopes that sparkler injuries to young children can be greatly reduced.

Sparkles should ALWAYS be used under close adult supervision.

Always remain standing while using sparklers.

Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.

Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.

Sparklers and bare feet can be a painful combination. Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.

Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.

Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person. Give them the unlit sparkler and then light it.

Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.

Never throw sparklers.

Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arm’s length.

Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers. And do not run while holding sparklers.