La Grange Officials Stress Holiday Safety

As Independence Day revelers are ramping up their celebrations, the La Grange Police Department is reminding people that fireworks are illegal.

But while fireworks may be illegal, Police Chief Michael Holub said officers are not going out of their way to arrest people for shooting off some bottle rockets or roman candles.

Holub said his officers will use “moderation and discretion” in dealing with individuals using fireworks to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

“I liken it to driving 26 in a 25 mile-per-hour zone. Is it illegal? Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m necessarily going to pull you for it,” Holub said. “That doesn’t mean that we’re giving permission for people to use fireworks, we just want people to keep it safe if they use them.”

But just because the police may have more pressing issues to deal with over the holiday weekend, including drunk drivers, Holub said people can still be arrested for fireworks. He recalled one of his officers arrested a man who returned from another state with a carload of fireworks. Holub said most fireworks are illegal in Illinois and this time of year many people travel to Indiana and Wisconsin to purchase some for their celebrations. Only limited fireworks are permissible in Illinois, such as sparklers or “snakes,” he said.

“But that’s about it. As a gross generalization anything with a fuse is not legal in Illinois,” Holub said.

Holub stressed that people need to be safe in whatever holiday activities in which they engage.

Although he would not comment on firework safety because of their illegal nature, Fire Chief Bill Bryzgalski said there are other safety concerns for people to be aware. Bryzgalski said high temperatures and grill safety are top concerns.

“We’re looking at a heat emergency … and I’m worried about people getting overheated,” Bryzgalksi said. “With backyard cookouts it’s going to be hot, so people really need to stay hydrated.”

Keeping hot grills away from a structure is also important to prevent fires, he said. He said sometimes flames can shoot up off a grill and ignite a part of the structure. People using charcoal grills also need to be mindful of hot coals. Bryzgalski said there have been incidents where people dumped the coals from a fire into a trash bin or some other receptacle without realizing the coals are still hot.

“You have to make sure the charcoal is out. Too many accidental fires have started because people didn’t realize the coals were still hot,” he said.

Bryzgalski said parents should be mindful of small children around grills. Children will reach out to touch the grill without realizing it is hot.

Bryzgalski also cautioned about refilling oil-based candles. If oil is poured into a too-hot container, he said that can cause a fire as well.

“We want everyone to be safe over the holidays,” Bryzgalski said.

Holub concurred.

“I think the message is implicit, be safe over the holidays,” he said.