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Yes, fireworks are dangerous

And your backyard spectacular is also illegal, authorities warn

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By Robert Pierce, Staff Writer Updated 7:17 AM Thursday, July 2, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Though it may seem like common sense, authorities remind residents that fireworks, even tame ones such as sparklers, pose a serious danger.

“We have untold numbers of complaints about fireworks going off at all hours of the night,” Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said. “Sometimes we get calls about bottle rockets on roofs. They are illegal.”

Shane Cartmill, a spokesman for the state fire marshal, said anytime you put fire and flying objects together, there is inherent danger. Most consumer fireworks are illegal and there is no such thing as a backyard fireworks permit, he said.

“Obviously, we know that people light off fireworks in their back yard,” he said. “But we want them to know they are breaking the law.”

Cartmill encourages people who want to see the large fireworks to go to public fireworks exhibitions.

Stacie Lehman, spokeswoman for Prevent Blindness Ohio, said even the legal fireworks are not safe.

“We always highlight sparklers,” she said. “They can get up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold.”

Last year alone, 200 children under the age of five suffered injuries from sparklers, she said. Prevent Blindness Ohio advocates for a ban of all fireworks.

Cartmill said parents need to know they are putting fire into the hands of children.

Ohio had 7,000 injuries from fireworks last year; 5,000 of them occurred between June 20 and July 20, Lehman said.

“Obviously, we know that people light off fireworks in their back yard. But we want them to know they are breaking the law.”

Shane Cartmill

Spokesman for  the state marshal

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