Firework shop owner reminds community how to stay safe on the 4th of July

BLAIR COUNTY (WTAJ) – With 4th of July celebrations coming up, it is important to keep in mind the safe and legal practices when handling consumer fireworks, no matter what the size.

“You just have to use a lot of common sense,” co-owner of Kneppy’s Fireworks, Rose Knepp said.

Every city in PA has different ordinances when it comes to setting off fireworks.

“It can’t be on any city property, so if you want to, you can’t set them off in a park, maybe at a baseball or football field in the city. You can’t do it on sidewalks and you can’t do it on roadways,” Altoona Police Department Sergeant, Patrick Tomassetti said.

Under state laws, it is illegal to set off fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure, and you must be over the age of 18 to set off consumer fireworks within the city.

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A reminder as well to keep an eye on children when using fireworks.

“Just supervise children who might be holding them in their hands because sometimes it’s the smaller things that can cause the most accidents,” Knepp said.

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