Fireworks safety tips for Fourth of July and beyond

GREEN BAY, WI—(WGBW)— Safe. Sane. Sober. Three words to keep in mind when using fireworks at home. Most fire professionals will recommend leaving the fireworks to the professionals. But with Independence Day celebrations, there are bound to be some people using fireworks at home. So Green Bay Metro Fire Department has some safety tips for those who will use them. 

Green Bay Metro Fire Captain Nick Craig said fireworks cause thousands of children to end up in the emergency room every year. 

 ”The biggest thing is the amount of injuries we’re looking at, over 10,000 injuries caused by consumer fireworks every year. And the ones that are legal for consumers to buy are actually causing the majority of those injuries,” Craig warned.

And the types of fireworks that cause the most injuries are the ones that Craig said are considered safe and sane, like sparklers.

“For example, sparklers burn at over 1200 degrees. That’s super hot, obviously. The end of the metal rod of the sparker is red-hot when it’s done burning. Sparklers account of 29% of fireworks injuries for children under the age of five,” said Craig.

In addition to injuries. Craig said fireworks are also the cause of many structure fires. 

“ The info that we have is from 2022. An average of 31,000 fires started across the U.S., 3,500 structure fires, 26,000 outside fires,” Craig said. “And a side note with that is that wildfires started by fireworks are doubled on the 4th of July.”

Craig said in Green Bay, they see several instances of fires started by fireworks each year. The improper disposal of used fireworks causes some. Others are caused by fireworks landing on the roofs of homes. 

Fireworks Safety Tips

To have a safe Fourth of July celebration, always follow these rules:

• Adult supervision
• Keep spectators at a safe distance
• Never give sparklers or any fireworks to a child under 5-yuears-old
• Never point fireworks at a person or animal.
• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Never use fireworks indoors
• Never hold lit fireworks in your hands
• Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fire or injury
• Never ignite fireworks in a container
• Do not attempt to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
• Dispose of used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight before discarding
• Keep fireworks, including used fireworks, away from structures such as homes or garages.
• Never use illegal fireworks.
• Keep pets on a leash

Craig said to avoid fires, the most important tip is to dispose of the used fireworks properly.

“ Even the safe, sane ones, the spark fountains, the snakes, the sparklers, all those should be put into a bucket of water overnight, away from a building,” Craig emphasized. “That’s the biggest thing–away from a structure.”