They may be legal to buy, but that doesn’t’ mean consumer fireworks, which are sold at ubiquitous pop-up retail stands approaching the summer holidays, are safe and legal to use in an urban setting like Reading.
Reading fire and police officials urged residents to leave fireworks to professionals, saying the city’s dense neighborhoods make it nearly impossible to use consumer‑grade fireworks safely — and that the devices on the market today are far more powerful than many people realize.
Mayor Eddie Moran joined Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss and Reading police Lt. Nick Epolito, the bomb squad commander, at the Berks County Fire Training Center on Wednesday to share their concerns and suggest safeguards ahead of the July Fourth weekend.
Reading’s skyline has lit up with aerial fireworks for the past few Independence Days since the Pennsylvania Legislature loosened the fireworks law, allowing consumers to buy and use consumer-grade fireworks such as Roman candles and mortars.
Searfoss said he continues to be struck by what’s available on the consumer market these days, noting that many of the items sold legally in Pennsylvania are essentially small‑scale explosive devices.
He emphasized that Reading’s dense neighborhoods make legal use by residents nearly impossible because state law requires a minimum 150‑foot setback from any structure or occupied vehicle.
“This is explosive material and people need to be extremely careful and make sure that there’s due diligence,” he said.
According to state police data, thousands of Americans are injured each year in fireworks‑related incidents, with burns to the face among the most common injuries. Fireworks also start more than 19,500 fires annually, causing an estimated $105 million in direct property damage.
Reading has seen several fireworks‑sparked fires in recent years, including a 2019 fire on the roof of Amanda Stout Elementary School that caused more than $250,000 in damage. In another incident, a man was left blind after being struck by debris from a firework.
During Wednesday’s demonstration, Searfoss held up a 27‑inch “Flash and Crash” jumbo candle — a device containing 78 rapid‑fire shots with loud reports and bright strobes.
He also displayed “The Boss,” a 20‑shot aerial cake that fires pillars of glowing gold sparks, brocade effects and ruby‑red stars.
“These are fused in between, so once it starts going, you can’t stop it and you’re not going to be able to do anything with it but stay away from it and let it run its course,” Searfoss said. “So, we encourage people to be extremely judicious about where they’re using this type of materials when they’re around other people.”
He urged residents to read warning labels carefully, maintain separation distances, and understand that even small devices can behave unpredictably.
STEVEN HENSHAW – READING EAGLE
Reading police Lt. Nick Epolito, bomb squad commander, says mortars — on the right side of the tailgate — may be legal fireworks, but need to be handled with extreme care if they misfire. On the left side the tailgate are three illegal fireworks, which are essentially explosive devices in cardboard coverings. (STEVEN HENSHAW – READING EAGLE)
Epolito walked reporters through the internal components of aerial mortars — the devices responsible for some of the most severe injuries the bomb squad sees.
Inside each tube is a lift charge and a bursting charge, he said. When one fails and the other doesn’t, people often approach the device thinking it’s spent.
“We’ve had people lose their eyesight, lose their hands,” Epolito said. “If something misfires, don’t walk up to it.”
He said damaged or questionable fireworks should be soaked in water and left alone. Anyone who believes they have an unsafe device should call the 911 non‑emergency line, 610-655-4911, which will connect them with the fire department or bomb squad.
Officials stressed that fireworks should only be handled by a responsible adult who is sober and alert, and that rural users must ensure there is no brush or dry vegetation nearby.
But in Reading, Searfoss said, the safest option is to plan to attend one of several public fireworks displays, such as those planned at each night’s Reading Fightin Phils games over the weekend or Saturday’s Star-Spangled Spectacular at the Berks County Fairgrounds, a few miles over the city line in Bern Township.
“You can go there and enjoy yourself,” the fire marshal said. “You don’t have to worry about it. Leave it to the professionals.”