The Illinois Explosives Act requires that anyone who purchases,
possesses, uses, transfers, stores or disposes of explosives,
including display fireworks, must have an explosives license and
explosives storage certificate issued by the IDNR. Licensing and
storage requirements administered by the IDNR do not apply to
consumer or personal fireworks (classified as 1.4 explosives) such
as Roman candles, bottle rockets or firecrackers. "The Fourth of
July is celebrated by many alongside family and friends and often by
taking in professional fireworks displays throughout Illinois," said
IDNR Director Marc Miller. "Display fireworks can be dangerous if
not stored and handled properly. Only someone who is certified or
licensed has the authority from the state to handle these types of
explosives."
The Illinois Explosives Act is administered by the IDNR Office of
Mines and Minerals, Blasting and Explosives Unit. This unit is
staffed by trained and experienced blasting specialists located
throughout Illinois. In addition to requiring comprehensive
licensing, training and examination for individuals, the law
requires that unattended display fireworks and explosives must be
stored in an explosives magazine, storage facility or container
inspected and certified by IDNR.
IDNR currently has 1,573 individuals licensed for the use of
explosives in Illinois, of which 793 are for the use of display
fireworks. There are 819 certified explosives storage magazines in
Illinois, which contain nearly 90 million pounds of explosives. Of
those storage magazines, 142 are certified specifically for the
storage of display fireworks.
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Anyone possessing, using, transferring or purchasing display
fireworks without a valid IDNR individual explosives license or
storage certificate is violating Illinois law and could incur
penalties. A violation of the Illinois Explosives Act can be a Class
3 felony, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a
$10,000 fine. In addition, the IDNR can assess administrative fines
for violations involving display fireworks and other explosives.
Emergency responders are reminded to contact IDNR immediately
with reports of personal injury or property damage resulting from
the use of explosives, including display fireworks.
For more information on the IDNR explosives regulatory program,
visit
www.dnr.state.il.us/mines/mst/index.htm. To report an explosives
incident or accident, contact the IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals,
Mine Safety and Training Division, at 217-782-9976.
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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