By John Futty
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Copyright 2006 The Columbus Dispatch
All Rights Reserved
The firecrackers and bottle rockets on sale at the Home Market looked as innocent as candy. The explosives were displayed on the counter in containers that once held Twizzlers and Laffy Taffy.
But the items are dangerous and illegal, said Columbus firefighters who confiscated the fireworks yesterday during a raid at the Groveport Road convenience store.
It was the eighth store raided this month by the fire investigations section, which is stepping up enforcement as the Fourth of July approaches.
“An 8-year-old could walk in here and buy a candy bar and a firecracker that could take his hand off,” Assistant Fire Chief Karry Ellis said. “We’re trying as best we can to prevent someone from getting hurt with illegal fireworks.”
Sparklers, smoke bombs and poppers are legal for purchase and use in Ohio, but fireworks that explode or launch can be purchased only from licensed dealers by patrons 18 and older who sign a document promising to take them out of state.
The operator of Home Market wouldn’t comment on the raid, but fire investigators said he told them he didn’t know the fireworks are illegal.
“The problem is, most of the store owners are getting this stuff from someone who tells them, ‘This is legal,’ ” Ellis said.
Firefighters confiscated so many fireworks during raids June 16 at stores on Sullivant and St. Clair avenues and E. Hudson and E. Main streets that they ran out of room in a storage building at their bomb range. Only when they had Environmental Protection Agency clearance to begin burning the explosives did they have room to confiscate more fireworks yesterday.
“We probably have close to 2 tons of it,” Ellis said.
Sale of the items is a misdemeanor, but he said no charges have been filed yet because firefighters are more concerned about getting the fireworks off store shelves.
Dave Schroeder, administrator for explosives and pyrotechnics at the State Fire Marshal’s office, said the number of stores selling illegal fireworks and the demand from customers spike around July Fourth.
“This is when people are thinking about fireworks and using them to celebrate our independence,” he said.