The 4th of July is a proud moment in our nation’s history and a celebration of our independence and the birth of a great nation. For many, a trademark of the celebration is, of course, fireworks, which ignite the skies and lift our spirits and our patriotism once a year. I spoke with Sgt. Scott Friedlein of the Champaign Police Department and Tim Wild, Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal for the Champaign Fire Department for advice on staying safe during the holiday.

buzz: What type of fireworks are illegal?

Friedlein: The easiest rule of thumb is that if it goes ‘boom,’ it is probably illegal.

buzz: Where should people look to buy fireworks or other holiday items if they are concerned?

Friedlein: If you buy fireworks at most neighborhood stands within Urbana, they’re pretty safe, and you should be OK.

buzz: What is a major safety concern the Champaign police usually deal with on the 4th of July?

Friedlein: One major safety concern can be irresponsible alcohol consumption combined with the use of fireworks.

buzz: What will be some of the demands on police this holiday?

Friedlein: The department is prepared for a number of traffic issues and expects for it to be a busy weekend. We also will have a number of officers working a number of public as well as private events.

Tim Wild is part of the Prevention Department with the Champaign Fire Department and also has some advice and experience to pass on to people during the holiday.

buzz: Any advice for staying safe this coming weekend?

Wild: Try to keep a responsible person in charge of watching friends or family when using fireworks.

buzz: With fireworks, what is one of the mistakes people make?

Wild: One of the problems with fireworks regarding safety is there is not always enough distance between the fireworks being set off and people.

buzz: Does campus send more calls than off-campus?

Wild: People have a misconception that we might get more calls from campus because of students. But they also have to remember we can receive more calls because, as a percentage, campus is a densely populated area.

buzz: Any other words of caution?

Wild: I have seen bottle rockets set fires, among other incidents during the holiday. A firework may not appear to be a problem now, but it can often smolder when left unchecked and cause problems some hours later.