Top 5 firework safety tips
5. Animals have sensitive ears and fireworks can frighten them or cause them stress. Keep pets indoors during the show.
4. Don’t make your own fireworks.
3. Don’t pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
2. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display.
1. Obey local laws. If fireworks aren’t legal, don’t use them.
FactsÂ
Consumer fireworks include sparklers and firecrackers. The tip of a sparkler is hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
- Water boils at 212 °F
- Cakes bake at 350 °F
- Wood burns at 575 °F
- Glass melts at 900 °F
- Sparklers burn at 1200 °F
In Arizona, it is legal for those 16 and older to purchase and use fireworks. However, the law allows cities to ban their use — and all the municipalities in the Southwest Valley have done so.
Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson have banned consumer fireworks; and Maricopa County temporarily restricted open fires, consumer fireworks and other sources of ignition within unincorporated areas of the county because of the wildfires raging across the state.
— Ronald Martin, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention
By the numbersÂ
$38 million of property loss was caused by fireworks in 2009
8,600 injuries were caused by fireworks in 2010
73 percent of those injuries occurred between June 18 and July 18
2 out of 5 people injured by fireworks in 2010 were under 15
