Celebrate with a boom...safely

CELINA-Under a new state fireworks law, Ohioans can legally set off certain consumer fireworks.

However, they must leave the big boomers, rockets and shells to the professionals.

Ohioans can discharge consumer 1.4G fireworks from 4-11 p.m. Sunday through Monday, according to the law. Allowable fireworks include bottle rockets, firecrackers and Roman candles. It is still illegal in Ohio to purchase display-grade fireworks without a license.

The law also stipulates no one under the age of 18 can handle or discharge fireworks. Additionally, no one under 18 can be within 150 feet from the discharge point.

Consumers can set off 1.4G fireworks on their own property or on another person's property if the owner has given express permission to do so, the law states.

As always, the law comes with regulations and exceptions. Local political subdivisions may ban fireworks or limit the dates and times fireworks can be used.

If a political subdivision takes action, the local legislation takes precedence, the law states. Consumers should check their local laws before discharging fireworks.

Those who are permitted to use fireworks should wear protective eyewear and never hold lit fireworks in their hands or light fireworks indoors. Additionally, consumers should only set off fireworks away from people, structures and flammable material.

Consumers are urged to neither re-light nor handle malfunctioning firework. Both spent and unused fireworks should be soaked in water for a few hours before discarding.

Celina Fire Chief Doug Wolters said it's crucial to take precautions when setting off fireworks, especially now because of dry conditions.

"The embers from the fireworks can start a grass fire, catch a structure on fire," he warned. "Or your mulch around the house could catch on fire. Take precautions with a garden hose (by) wetting it down before and after (setting fireworks off)."

Fully extinguish fireworks by keeping a water bucket or hose nearby, and never place hot fireworks in a trash can, according to AAA. Light fireworks in a safe area, away from any structures, and keep an eye out for tree limbs, bushes or dry grasses that could catch fire, AAA notes.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey echoed Wolters' concerns about safely discharging fireworks.

"Even when it was illegal, a lot of people did it anyway," he said. "We've been fortunate that it's been a long time since we've had any major injuries or anything like that. I do think that fireworks, if not handled correctly, can be dangerous and people can get hurt. I think people need to use a lot of caution with them."

He said fireworks can be especially dangerous when drinking is involved and common sense falls to the wayside.

"A lot of times, people, especially on holidays, if they've been drinking, they start horseplay," Grey said. "They'll take the bottle rockets…and they'll shoot them at other people. Normally, they're joking around when they do it, but if you shoot that at somebody else and it goes off in their face or something, a lot of bad things can happen."

Don't let a bad decision ruin the holiday weekend, he said.

"It's a holiday that we all should enjoy in this country because it's about our freedom, but people need to be careful," Grey said. "Don't drink and (use) fireworks. They just need to be extremely careful with them."

Wolters also stressed only certain fireworks can be set off legally during designated times.

"If it's a commercial or public displays where they use the 1.3 shells, they have to have a permit and an inspection completed by the fire department to shoot those off," he said of commercial grade fireworks. "We have to be present and inspect before and after, which we will be."

Barry Peel Jr. of Peel's Pit Stop in Celina is a lead pyrotechnician along with his brother, Brett. As pyrotechnicians, they have a license in Ohio to possess, transport and launch fireworks.

The brothers along with some of their family will help set off fireworks from a barge on Grand Lake during tonight's 10 p.m. show near the north shore in Celina.

On the day of the show, Peel said he picks up fireworks and transports them to the shoot site. He also notifies the fire department he has explosives within their jurisdiction.

Peel said each shell must be shot out of an HDPE tube.

"It's designed that if the shell were to malfunction, the tube will expand and tear, but it won't become (shrapnel) metal," he explained. "Each one is done with an electric match, which is hooked back into a module and then the computer tells the module when to shoot that particular shell at what particular time.

"The computer calculates how long it will take from the time that it's shot to the time that it breaks in the sky so that it lines up with the music," he said. "It's choreographed. There'll be roughly 900 shells in (tonight's) show."

Above all, Peel said he's an advocate for safety.

"The number one goal is (for) everybody (to) go home safely, nobody get hurt and then hope the crowd enjoys the show," he said.