Officials highlight dangers of illegal fireworks

Published 5:59 pm Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on Wednesday highlighted the destructive power of illegal fireworks during a demonstration in Renton.

Explosives agent Brennan Phillips displayed several illegal devices, explained the dangers involved and then watched as officials set off the explosives in advance of July 4.

Among the dangerous items demonstrated were a tennis-ball bomb, an M-1000 “Silver Salute” and a relatively new device called a “Light Saber.”

Phillips called the Light Saber particularly “insidious” because it looks a lot like a typical Roman candle, but launches M-80 shells into the air, making them much more dangerous.

All fireworks are illegal in the City of Renton. The city hosts a public display at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

The Renton Police and Fire Departments actively enforce the ban and work jointly to issue citations and confiscate fireworks.