FOLIO LINE
By Rob Manker/Chicago Tribune
Downtown or in the suburbs, you’ll want to fully enjoy your fireworks viewing this
Fourth of July. To help make the most of those “oohs” and “ahhs,” we’ve compiled a
few tips that could spell the difference between your night being a blast or a dud ...
10 WAYS TO PUT A BANG IN YOUR FIREWORKS SHOW
1 Say, can you see?: A close, clear
vantage point is essential. And
remember, trees grow, so the higher
up the better.
2 Squatter’s rights: Like unclaimed 5 Sit down for this: While blankets
land in an infant nation, the best spots
go fast. Find your place long before
the sun goes down.
3 Stars and stripes forever: A
long wait could be the price you pay
for staking out that perfect spot.
Declare your independence from
boredom by passing the time with a
Frisbee or a good book, or by playful-
ly hiding stuff from the guy in the
spot you really wanted.
4 Blanket policy: Let the interlop-
ers know “my space” is more than
just a website. Spread out an old blan-
ket or two to buy yourself a buffer
WHAT WAS THAT SOUND?
Some of the most common fireworks
you can expect to hear in your
neighborhood this holiday,
even though possessing them
may be illegal in your area:
SUNFLOWER/HELICOPTER
Flies into the air quickly, spins and
produces a small flash of light.
Sound: Loud buzz.
FIRECRACKERS
Explode individually
or in succession.
Sound: Fast,
loud bangs.
BOTTLE
ROCKET
A miniature rocket zooms into the air
with a quick burst.
Sound: A sharp, high-pitched whoosh or
whistling sound followed by a loud pop.
SKYROCKET
Works like bottle rockets, but
explodes into colors in the air.
Sound: Much like the bottle rock-
et, but louder.
ROMAN CANDLE
Fireballs shoot out the lit
end of a tube.
Sound: Deep popping noise
as the fireball exits the stick.
Some fireballs explode.
SATURN MISSILES
Launches from 25
to thousands of tiny
rockets upward in
quick succession.
Sound: A barrage
of whistling
rockets followed
by many quick,
sharp pops.
LOW-GRADE:
CHAMPAGNE
POPPER
Pull the string and
confetti pops out.
Sound: Quick pop.
SPARKLER
Emits showers of sparks.
Some change color.
Sound: Like an egg frying
in a greasy pan.
SOURCES: AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS ASSOCIATION, U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, ILLINOIS OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, TRIBUNE REPORTING
zone. This is your best defense to
ward off late-comers. (And if you are
the late-comer, no, you can’t put your
blanket on ours.)
can help protect your turf, you don’t
want to actually sit on them. Go for
real creature comfort and break out
the camp chairs — with cup holders!
6 Beverage leverage: If bringing
your own drinks, particularly of the
adult variety, be mindful of local ordi-
nances. Those aren’t margaritas in the
Gatorade bottles, are they?
7 Twilight’s last gleaming: The
fireworks will light up the night, but
they won’t help you find that bottle
opener or your wandering 2-year-old.
Flashlights are essential for keeping
track of your stuff. Or just drape
explode, show-
ering colored
sparks in all direc-
tions. Some versions
release multiple shells.
Sound: Loud bang fol-
lowed by a loud pop as
the shell explodes.
SMOKE BOMB SNAKE
Emits colored Ash climbs out of
smoke. container in the
Sound: Faint fizzing. shape of a snake.
Sound: Faint fizzing.
FIREWORKS 101
FOLIO LINE M c C l a t c h y - Tr i b u n e
FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS
Fireworks are fun and sparkly, and many people like
to put on their own shows at home. But playing with
consumer fireworks can be very dangerous and should
only be used with extreme caution.
Before you light up your neighborhood, check out
these safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product
everything in glow-stick necklaces,
including the kids. Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov):
8 Music to your years: If you bring ✺ Make sure fireworks are permitted in your state or
local area. Many states and local governments prohibit
the radio, be courteous to those
around you. Lady Gaga is not consid- or limit consumer fireworks.
ered patriotic music. ✺ Don’t allow young children to play with fireworks
under any circumstances. Sparklers, considered by
9 Amended articles: Snacks, cam- many a “safe” firework for the young, burn at very high
eras, bug spray, a light jacket and even
temperatures and can ignite clothing. Children cannot
an umbrella could all come in handy.
understand the danger involved and cannot act appro-
But if you can’t fit it in a backpack or
priately in case of emergency.
sling it over your shoulder, don’t bring
it. You’re sitting outside for a few ✺ Older children should only be permitted to use fire-
hours, not crossing the Delaware. works under close adult supervision. Do not allow any
running or horseplay.
10 Exit strategy: Be it screaming ✺ Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from
child, barking dog or just the end of
houses, dry leaves or grass and flammable materials.
the show, you’ll have to get out of
there somehow. Don’t sit so close that ✺ Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and
you can’t easily escape the fleeing for pouring on fireworks that don’t go off.
hordes. You’d like to get home some- ✺ Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fire-
time before the dawn’s early light. works. Douse and soak them with water and throw
them away.
✺ Be sure other people are out of range before lighting
fireworks.
✺ Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a
glass or metal container.
✺ Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.
✺ Store fireworks in a dry, cool place. Check instruc-
tions for special storage directions.
✺ Never have any portion of your body directly over a
firework while lighting.
✺ Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks.
— MCT
A (MOSTLY) NATIONAL PASTIME
FIREWORKS LAWS BY STATE
Permits some or all types of consumer fireworks
Permits “novelty” items, such as sparklers
or noisemakers
Does not permit any consumer fireworks
AERIAL
SHELLS
U.S. FIREWORKS CONSUMPTION
Fly up out of Scale in millions of pounds
a tube and
Display fireworks (professional)
Consumer fireworks
186.4 million
26.8 million
300
250
200
150
100
50
2000 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08
REVENUE
Scale in millions of dollars
$940 million
$1 billion
800
600
400
BILL HOGAN/
C H I C AG O
200
TRIBUNE/MCT
2000 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08
FIREWORKS INJURIES
Estimated
12,000
9,000
SNAPS Note: Certain
When thrown on jurisdictions ban
the ground, they some or all of 2008: 7,044
explode. these devices. 6,000
Sound: Pop. 1990 ’95 2000 ’05
C H I C AG O T R I B U N E / M C T
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE