The Works

The Fourth of July is the celebration of American independence. And when Americans celebrate, they want one thing: lots of explosions.\n"We've been by before today and we bought about $400 worth. We're having family over; they come over every year," Bloomington resident Scott Carpenter said. "(People love fireworks) because they're a celebration. It's the best way for us to celebrate our independence."\nCarpenter's favorite firework is the artillery shell -- the type that is set off from the ground and explodes high in the air.\nThe Consumer Products Safety Commission, the government agency that keeps statistics and reports on the safety of consumer products, doesn't have a sunny outlook on fireworks. A firework safety guide published by the agency begins, "The American traditions of parades, cookouts, and fireworks help us celebrate the summer season, especially our nation's birthday on the Fourth of July. However, fireworks can turn a joyful celebration into a painful memory when children and adults are injured while using fireworks."\nNevertheless, statistics from the CPSC report that each year, more people visit emergency rooms as a result of accidents involving shopping carts than visit because of accidents involving fireworks.\nSteve Porter, owner of Steve's Out-of-State Fireworks, has been in the firework business for 30 years, and had stores locally every year since 1988.\n"The stuff we sell is very carefully selected," Porter said. "We carry good products, especially the multi-shot aerial products. A firecracker is a firecracker and a bottle rocket is a bottle rocket, but we're very choosy about our aerial products."\nBecause many of the fireworks are strictly regulated in the state of Indiana, Porter's customer's must sign a waiver agreeing to transport the firework outside of the state within five days or ignite them at an approved firing site. This year, the site is on Mount Vernon Road. The site is licensed and insured. \nMuch of firework safety is common sense, Porter said. Keep water handy in case there is an accident. Keep undetonated fireworks back 50 feet from the shooting site. \n"The worst accidents happen when people try to mess with fireworks, take them apart and try to build something that will really blow up. Or when people drink. Alcohol and fireworks don't mix."\nAnd, Porter said, don't assume any firework is so safe as to be above careful handling.\n"Sparklers are one of the most dangerous," Porter said. "You're dealing with a wire that's just been heated to 2,000 or 3,000 degrees, and it's in your hand."\nAnd while much of safety is common sense, there are other benefits to following the guidelines.\n"As far as viewing the firework and seeing the beauty of the scene, the farther back you are the better," Porter said. \nIndiana law stipulates that wire sparklers not exceed 100 grams per item, and that devices that contain certain salts not exceed 5 grams. Other freely permitted devices include cylindrical and cone fountains, illuminated torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, snakes, smoke devices and trick noisemakers. This type of legislation is generally called "Safe and Sane" regulation. The term was popularized in the 1950s when legislation began to regulate consumer fireworks. \nModern fireworks are still made very similarly to the way they were made thousands of years ago. Most fireworks are made by hand in China today, Porter said. \nIn general, most aerial fireworks work in a similar fashion. Chemicals are packed into small "star balls" and then packed into a canister above the lift charge. A fuse is inserted. The primary fuse ignites the lift charge, which lifts the canister into the air. The secondary fuse is time-delayed to ignite the star balls only when at the appropriate height. Once the fuse ignites the star balls, they explode and release a bright flash of color. \nBut for many residents, price is a factor. Porter said a woman recently bought more than $800 worth of fireworks, although an average purchase is around $100. For a good show, Porter recommended getting a wide variety of fireworks, and delaying fireworks that feature blue until the show's finale. The chemical that is used to create the blue color is more expensive, and so multi-colored fireworks that include it are pricier. \nBut for firework enthusiasts like Bloomington resident Robert Ridge, the Fourth of July can't come soon enough.\n"I'm buying roman candles today," Ridge said. "I'm going camping and I'm planning on celebrating then. I have a closet full at home already, but I need a few more"