Makeshift wooden shelves are jam-packed with "America's Most Wanted" out-of-state fireworks: The Crater Creator, Big Stick, Grim Reaper, Unleash the Beast, Rock the House, XXX, M70 and Big Bad Ass Break Shell.\nObnoxiously enticing primary colors leap out from every package, slicing through bad lighting and creating a dizzying and overbearing task for the retinas. Plastic dime store buckets are pressed together and filled with explosively delightful trinkets. The room is a mouth-watering toy store for pyromaniacs.\nPete Jay, general manager for the 17th Street and Walnut Avenue branch of Steve's Fireworks, is uniquely qualified and licensed for his job because he used to be an underwater demolition technician. He takes three weeks off his regular job so he can work in exchange for fireworks and put on a show in his seven-acre backyard for family, friends and neighbors.\nJay stands in the middle of his future compensation and explains he's had a love for fireworks ever since his dad would bring home boxes of confiscated goodies from passengers on the Long Island Railroad. He wipes his brow to rid himself of the pressing heat clinging to the building and expresses his irritation at an article that was reprinted in the Herald-Times saying all fireworks are illegal.\n"A lot of people think all fireworks are illegal in the state of Indiana and that's just wrong," Jay said. "Hell, I had a policeman come in here the other day and buy $500 worth of fireworks and that was after his 50 percent discount."\nState-approved fireworks include dipped stick or wire sparklers, cylindrical cones, cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers.\nUnder Indiana state law, setting off out-of-state fireworks without a display permit or not taking them out of state within five days is subject to at least a Class "A" misdemeanor and court summons and can even result in arrest.\n"Ultimately it's at the officers' discretion, but enforcement would be more directed at people who are using (fireworks) irresponsibly or in a dangerous manner," said IUPD Officer David Winburn. "But people who are using precautions can still be arrested."\nEach county has set up a safe zone where people can legally shoot off their in- and out-of-state fireworks with licensed pyrotechnicians, the fire department and medical staff nearby in case of an emergency. The Monroe County site is located northwest of Bloomington at Cowden Road.\nJay said more people should take advantage of the sites because fireworks are not what is most dangerous. What's dangerous is their improper usage and children's lack of adult supervision that leads to accidents, like the one that happened recently at Olcott Park when two teenagers caused an estimated $5,000 to $15,000 in damages to the restroom by throwing water dynamite in the toilet.\n"Newspapers always write about the incident where the drunk man loses a finger or about the kid who sets a fire," Jay said. "They never write about the families who have fun together and enjoy the fireworks without getting hurt."\nAccording to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks-related injuries went down from 8,300 in 1997 to 7,000 in 1998. Illegal or homemade explosives caused 30 to 33 percent of those injuries, and the majority of injuries from legal fireworks were minor.\nOne of the people with experience in putting on safe fireworks displays for public enjoyment is pyrotechnician and owner of Steve's Fireworks, Steven Porter. \nPorter has been working with fireworks since 1987 and admits he still doesn't know everything about fireworks. But he knows enough not to be near a shell when it's about to detonate because the flame can move up the fuse at 300 feet per second once it's inside.\nSince the shells in his stores are aerial fireworks that go more than six feet off the ground, they are considered out-of-state and can get up to 1.5 inches wide. The width of shells in a professional firework display, on average, runs from 6 to 12 inches but can get up to 24 inches if the company ordering it has a small crane and a large budget.\nPorter said when he attended the "Thunder Over Louisville" show four years ago -- which is still the largest annual fireworks show in the world -- it cost almost $7 million to put on. A 100-man crew spent two weeks getting the shells situated and connecting them with 150 miles of wiring. They set it up on four barges and detonated all of them with a computer that choreographed the display to music. \nMost companies can't afford to be that high-tech with their shows, so they stick to smaller-scale displays that can either be ready-made and brought in on a portable trailer or built on site.\nFor the latter, they choose a launch site, dig holes in the ground, fill them with concrete and place shells inside. Smaller shells can be lit with a flare, but many of the fireworks -- particularly the grand finales -- are electronically detonated and set on a delay to space the explosions. Shell-bearers have the responsibility of emptying and reloading the shells. \nMany of the shells and fireworks used for public and private use originate in China, where they are handmade in what Porter described as "very primitive factories." \nAfter testing fees, sales permits, state, federal import and sales taxes, fireworks can end up costing retailers up to four or five times more than what they paid for them -- a cost which Jay said is well worth it.\n"This year more than ever, I think it's important for everyone to come together and be united during our nation's birthday," Jay said. "Celebrating with your family, friends and fireworks is a great way to do that."\nSafety Tips\n
- Light your fireworks on concrete or gravel, not grass.
- Ignite fireworks a good distance away from combustible materials such as a house, shed, barn, vehicle or stored materials.
- Use extended reach fuse lighters instead of matches or butane lighters.
- Have a garden hose ready and wet surfaces around your display area when done.
