The celebration of independence in the city of Chicago and its suburbs was marred by a series of firework-related incidents, resulting in at least 13 fires on July 4th and two significant fires in the north suburbs early July 5th, as reported by local fire departments. The Chicago Sun-Times documented the Chicago Fire Department's busy night, during which firefighters responded to numerous fires caused by fireworks; one of these incidents ended tragically with the death of a man on the Northwest Side.
In addition to the fires within the city, the Lake County Sheriff's Office dealt with their firework-induced blazes in Wadsworth and unincorporated Deerfield, as ABC 7 Chicago reports, one home was destroyed and a townhome suffered significant damage, with no injuries reported, residents and their pets were able to escape before flames fully engulfed both structures.
The Chicago Sun-Times' reporting included a statement from CFD spokesman Larry Langford, who expressed his shock at the high number of fires, stating, “I’ve been monitoring them for 20 years, and I haven’t seen this many.” Langford also detailed the widespread nature of the fires affecting different parts of the city, impacting porches, garages, homes, and on one occasion, a dumpster.
The dangers of illicit fireworks came into sharp relief with the Hermosa incident in which a man lost his life. The fireworks did not initially go off, and when the man stuck his head over it, the fireworks exploded. This year's increased firework use, reaching an all-time high, translates into a booming industry now valued at $2.4 billion, as per the American Pyrotechnics Association figures discussed by the Sun-Times.
Despite these incidents, the use of consumer fireworks, which remain mostly banned in Illinois, continues to be a problem especially around holiday celebrations. The Lake County Sheriff's Office took the opportunity to remind residents of the state's fireworks laws and urged them to leave such activities to the professionals who comply with the necessary safety regulations and have their plans approved.
