ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The fourth of July typically is marked with a few loud bangs, but local authorities want to make sure it doesn’t end with a few bumps, bruises or worse.
"We want to celebrate, we want to enjoy our independence, right?" Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said. "But there also comes with it regulations and rules that I would encourage people to follow.
"We've had July 4th, from years past, be some of the busiest times for our patrol officers."
"You can't be in parks lighting them. You can't be on the streets lighting them and you gotta be at least 150 feet from an occupied structure."Allentown Police Lt. Chad Ege
As holiday fireworks will be on display throughout the week, Allentown city officials are reminding people about the laws in place to keep everyone safe while celebrating.
"You can't be in parks lighting them," Allentown Police Lt. Chad Ege said. "You can't be on the streets lighting them and you gotta be at least 150 feet from an occupied structure."
Ege also is the Allentown bomb squad commander, which covers all of Lehigh County and parts of Carbon and Bucks counties.
“Don't use illegal fireworks — and not only illegal fireworks, but commercial-grade fireworks or really big ones, if for some reason you have them," Ege said.
"No one but people with licenses should be handling them."
'People always underestimate'
Ege said it’s illegal and dangerous to light fireworks in the city because of the dense population.
Pennsylvania law has allowed for consumer-grade fireworks to be bought by people 18 and older.
"I haven't had a year since 2016, where we haven't dealt with some sort of fatality or significant dismemberment involving fireworks."Chad Ege, Allentown bomb squad commander
"I haven't had a year since 2016 where we haven't dealt with some sort of fatality or significant dismemberment involving fireworks,” Ege said.
Both he and Roca said that if people choose to light fireworks, they should maintain a safe distance from structures, other people, and any stockpile of fireworks nearby.
They also said to keep fireworks out of the hands of children and people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Also, they recommended wearing eye and hearing protection, as well as keep a bucket of water handy, when using fireworks.
Ege said sparklers also can be a threat, as they stay hot long after they burn out.
“People always underestimate the power of the sparklers and there's sparklers really that burn at 2,000 degrees," he said.
'Had some very bad injuries'
Not only are firefighters and police officers busier this time of year, but the emergency room sees an increase in injuries, as well.
“Sparklers are like our number one firework thing that really affects the kids, and adults, but primarily the kids, whether it's a burn or people stepping on them,” said Dr. Andrew Miller, regional vice chairman for Lehigh Valley Health Network's department of emergency and hospital medicine.
“This time of year we always see tons and tons of firework injuries that come in, ranging from just explosive ones such as bottle rockets that light up or just the ones that people light up, we see flash burns, different types of burns.
“We've had some very bad injuries with those M80s and different kinds of explosive ones with hand injuries, finger injuries.”
Miller also warned those who have asthma or are prone to getting bronchitis to be careful, as well.
“When that smoke comes and you kind of have that washed toward you, you could definitely have and we've seen some of those reactions come in just breathing issues post that."
Police Chief Roca said, “I also want people that are choosing to use fireworks to be cognizant of the time restriction that the city of Allentown has per ordinance because the state law allows municipalities to further enhance that."
'Have fun. but ...'
The city also has a noise restriction between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and Roca said it will have more patrols out during the week of the Fourth of July, and a zero-tolerance policy.
Roca said there are real consequences to a person making a choice to violate what the laws say about fireworks.
"Could result in a violation and there's three different sections," he said. "The first violation, you receive a fine of not less than $50 or more than $100, the second violation is between $100 and not more than $500, and the third and subsequent violations would be anywhere fine of not less than $500 no more than $1,000 or 30 days imprisonment or both.”
Roca also warned of the violation of the noise ordinance, saying renters who rack up three or more could be subject to eviction.
“Being ignorant of the law does not make you immune from the law," Roca said.
The first responders and medical professionalsagreed that leaving the fireworks displays up to the professionals is the smartest and safest way to celebrate the holiday.
"We want to make sure that people are aware that [they can] enjoy, have fun, but do so with respect to the law,” Roca said.
The Lehigh Valley has a variety of fireworks planned throughout the area. Find a full list here.
