Sparks In the Sky Fireworks & Fire Safety

By Micah Redmond

Gathering family and friends to enjoy a night of sparks in the sky is often the highlight of the July holidays. Fireworks are amazing and fun; however, each year there are approximately 18,500 fires and 9,000 people injured from fireworks. Head injuries, burns, amputations, fractures, and loss of hearing and vision are common. Firefighters love fighting fire and emergency departments love taking care of injured patients, but we would rather you all enjoy making good memories that don’t involve pain, loss, and fear. As we prepare for fireworks season, a useful term I like to use is situational awareness. Situational awareness is understanding an environment, its elements, and other factors that help us make good decisions. As you prepare for hosting or viewing amateur fireworks shows, please be prepared, make good decisions, and follow these Safety Tips that may keep you from getting injured or starting a fire:

• Avoid launching fireworks in busy streets, near agriculture fields, or commercial businesses.

• Use 2-4 cinder blocks to maintain the fireworks in an upright position.

• Use an instant-on torch or butane cooking torch for igniting fireworks.

• Close all doors to your house, including your garage door.

• Do not park vehicles on dry grass.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.

• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.

• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.

• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.

• Never light them indoors.

• Only use them away from people, houses, and flammable materials.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.

• Never ignite devices in a container.

• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding them.

• Keep a water hose and a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off, or in case of fire.

• Never use illegal fireworks.

References:

NFPA: nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Fireworks

NEC: nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/fireworks

Marks Pro Talk Safety: marksfireworks.com/pro-talk-safety

UTAH STATE 2023 FIREWORKS Discharge Dates & Times

Class “C” fireworks may be discharged between the hours of 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. except as noted:

July 2nd – July 5th

July 4th hours extended to midnight

July 22nd – July 25th

July 24th hours extended to midnight

December 31st– January 1st

December 31st hours extended to 1 a.m. on January 1st

Chinese New Year’s Eve

11 a.m. – 1 a.m. the following day