The Illinois Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR) is reminding individuals and
organizations sponsoring fireworks displays in
Illinois for the Independence Day holiday to be sure
their fireworks vendor has the required state
licenses and certificates issued by the IDNR prior to
their fireworks show.
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.
IDNR licensing and storage requirements do not apply
to consumer or personal fireworks (classified as 1.4
explosives) such as roman candles, bottle rockets or
firecrackers.
“The Independence Day holiday celebrations involving
fireworks are a great tradition, but we want to make
sure these fireworks shows are as safe as possible,”
said IDNR Director Marc Miller. “Display fireworks
can be dangerous if not stored and handled properly.
Only certified and licensed vendors have 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 that is
inspected and certified by IDNR.
IDNR currently has 1,530 individuals licensed for the
use of explosives in Illinois, of which 864 are for
the use of display fireworks. There are 840
certified explosives storage magazines in Illinois,
which contain nearly 90 million pounds of explosives.
Of those storage magazines, 144 are certified
specifically for the storage of display fireworks.
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 log on to
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 Explosives Unit at 217/782-9976.
In addition to fireworks vigilance, the IDNR office
of Land Management has instituted open fire burn bans
at several sites throughout the state, especially in
Southern Illinois where extreme dry conditions
warrant these bans. Please check with any site
office to see if an open burn ban is in place or
check the DNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov for
more information.
