CHICAGO — There’s a way to shoot off fireworks legally in Chicago, but the chances that those being shot off over the neighborhoods this Fourth of July are legal is miniscule.
Those who want to shoot off fireworks can apply for a fireworks license through the Chicago Fire Department to celebrate the Fourth of July.
But almost no one has gotten one of those licenses, meaning that all those fireworks cascading sparks over the neighborhoods are illegal, according to Larry Langford, spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department.
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“If you see something in the neighborhood where somebody is setting something up in a vacant lot, that’s illegal,” Langford said.
He said fireworks licenses are extremely rare and frequently only issued when one of the stadiums wants to shoot off fireworks or an event includes pyrotechnics.
One of the hurdles might be the $1 million in insurance the fire department requires anyone who wants a fireworks license to get.
The only group that shelled out the money this year for a fireworks license for the Fourth was the Saddle and Cycle Club, 900 W. Foster Ave., which will do a private fireworks display for its members on Tuesday.
The Beverly Country Club and Ridge Country Club both also got fireworks license, but held their displays on Monday night.
Langford said illegal fireworks displays usually cause several house fires from rockets being shot into wooden porches and firefighters will be out combating whatever fires do start.
