SOLON — On July 3, 1776, John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, vice-president to George Washington and Washington’s successor as the second President of the United States, wrote to his wife Abigail about what has since become Independence Day.
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews (British spelling of “show”), Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
However, for many decades in Iowa, “illuminations (fireworks)” were illegal unless they were being fired off as part of a permitted display. In 2017 the Iowa Legislature made use of consumer-grade fireworks legal but only during two narrow windows on the calendar for Independence Day and New Year’s Day. The legislation allowed municipalities to further restrict the use of fireworks if they so desired.
In Solon, Ordinance No.440 expresses the City’s desire “to continue to prohibit the use of consumer fireworks within the City,” but also complies with the state law by making an exception for Independence Day.
Consumer fireworks may be used July 1-July 3 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and on July 4 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Fireworks safety
The National Safety Council (NSC) urges people to “leave fireworks to the professionals.” In 2017, eight people died and over 12,000 were injured severely enough to require medical treatment due to fireworks-related incidents. Half of the injuries were to children and teens. The majority of incidents were attributed to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade, or other illegal fireworks or explosives. But an estimated 1,200 injuries were from firecrackers and sparklers. Sparklers burn at around 2,000 degrees, the NSC notes and account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries.
The NSC also notes an average of 18,500 fires, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and nearly 17,000 other fires are caused annually by fireworks.
The NSC recommends the following safety tips:
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should only use fireworks under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light fireworks indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses, and flammable materials
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning (duds) fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks