4th of July Fireworks Safety

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Injuries and accidental fires are of serious concern to first responders and law makers across the United States. Several states including Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have banned personal fireworks displays completely, while others, like California, leave the decision about the legality of fireworks to local communities with the provision that "Safe and Sane" fireworks must be used.

Safe and Sane Fireworks

In most communities, "Safe and Sane" fireworks are classified as those that do not fly or explode. While the specific types of legal "Safe and Sane" fireworks vary from state to state and town to town, some of the common ones include fountains, sparklers, wheels, strobes, ground spinners, snappers, caps, and other novelty fireworks that do not travel. The most common types of fireworks that are prohibited are firecrackers, rockets, missiles, mines, shells, aerial cakes, flying spinners, and Roman candles, which explode and/or fly.

Explaining California's legislation on fireworks, Deputy Fire Marshal Kevin Smith of the Chino Valley Independent Fire District says, "Safe and Sane fireworks are only legal in communities that pass ordinances saying they are legal. Everywhere else all fireworks are illegal throughout California. Furthermore in California, anything that flies or blows up is illegal everywhere. It doesn't matter if it's in a community that allows Safe and Sane or not."

Monitoring the Sale of Fireworks

Fire Marshal Smith's community does allow "Safe and Sane" fireworks, and they are very stringent in their monitoring of the vendors who sell them. He explains, "We inspect these booths three times a day. We make sure that the isles are clear. If there's an emergency in the booth people can get out of the booth quickly. They have one fire extinguisher by each exit. All exits are kept open and not locked. We make sure that there is no smoking within 25' of the booth, no alcohol within 25' of the booth, no parking within 25' feet of the booth, and basically that any combustibles are moved far away from the booth. So this way we make sure that the booths are safe and don't create a problem for the community."

Fireworks Safety Tips

Fire Captain Stewart of the Chino Valley Independent Fire District says, "It's always a lot of fun for everybody to get out and enjoy the fireworks, but this time of the year is always a big concern for us in the fire service." He strongly recommends that Americans take their families to professional fireworks shows instead of putting on their own fireworks displays at home. However, if people in communities where fireworks are legal choose to have a show at home, several safety precautions should be taken. First and foremost, where children are present, adult supervision is absolutely necessary to help prevent injury. Second, fireworks should only be used in areas where there are not combustibles such as dry brush or weeds, to prevent fires.

To find a local professional fireworks show, please logon to your community's website for times and locations. To read the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) warning against the consumer use of fireworks, click here.

From all of us at FDNNTV.com, please have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July celebration.