Campbellsport Fire Department Safety Tips When Using Fireworks

Fireworks Safety - How You Can Make a Difference

Fireworks and celebrations go together, especially during the Fourth of July celebrations.

You can help us prevent fireworks-related injuries and deaths. How? By working promote fireworks safety in your community.

The use of legal fireworks has quadrupled over the past 20 years, while firework-related injuries have dropped 44 percent (according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). Further, the number of firework-related fires has also stabilized or declined in recent years. Lower statistics can be credited to the improved quality of firework products, but incidents are still occurring as a result of misuse and abuse of the products.

Campbellsport Fire & Rescue Services would like to remind everyone about fireworks safety especially with the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. Please keep the following safety tips in mind.

• A responsible adult should supervise all fireworks activities.
• Never give fireworks to young children.
• Always purchase fireworks from reliable sources.
• Follow label directions carefully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.
• Light them one at a time then move back quickly.
• Don't experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Always have water ready.
• Never try to re-light malfunctioning fireworks.
• Store fireworks in a cool dry place.
• Dispose of fireworks properly.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
• Observe local laws and use common sense.

Before firing a display, a few elementary precautions should be taken in order that the rules of fireworks safety be maintained.

1. Remember that your children are always fascinated by fireworks and make a good audience, but they should NOT participate in the actual firing of the pieces. Older children should be taught to participate under adult supervision.
2. One person should be in charge of the display.
3. With the single exception of sparklers, no firework is designed to be held in the hand when lighted.
4. Before firing your display, read the printed instructions on each piece and plan the order of firing. Keep in mind that the firing location should be cleared of overhead obstructions, trees, or wiring.
5. Use buckets, boxes of sand or a wheelbarrow filled with earth as your firing base.
6. Items such as Roman Candles and other long pieces should be buried to half their length and inclined at a 10-degree angle directed away from spectators.
7. If containers are not available, dig holes in the ground deep enough to bury the fireworks to half their length. Stamp the ground firmly around each piece before firing.
8. Put a few gallons of water in a large container, such as a metal garbage can, for disposal of used firework pieces. Keep a garden hose available to sprinkle used fireworks.
9. In the unlikely event that a piece does not go off, do not attempt to re-light it. Dispose of it in the water container.