Consumer Fireworks Raise Concerns

For nearly a decade, Hillsborough County has avoided a burn ban. With serious drought conditions in play, fire officials are closing monitoring wind, weather and ground conditions.

The fire marshal could make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners to ban fire or fireworks in unincorporated Hillsborough County - which includes Carrollwood and Northdale - if the drought continues.

But that could have implications for state and locally-coordinated fireworks displays, officials say, as the Fourth of July nears.

Patch spoke with Ray Yeakley, public information officer for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, about his perspective on consumer fireworks safety.

“Don’t do it,“ he said. “It is illegal to purchase fireworks in the state of Florida, except for Class ‘C’ sparklers,” he said.

The sparkler category includes snakes, smoke devices, and glow worms.

Yeakley discourages their use, especially considering the severe drought conditions. When someone purchases fireworks, they have to sign a waiver – except for sparklers. He explained two loopholes in Florida statutes that allow the sales.

“The law states you can use fireworks to scare birds from your agricultural property, or for lighting or clearing railroads,” Yeakley said.

You’re not covered if you use them at your home, he said.

Given the drought conditions and high heat index, Yeakley cautioned the public to resist the temptation to use fireworks at home, even if near a lake. Fireworks have a trajectory and can ignite the bone-dry ground after landing, he said.

“It’s dry out there,” he said. “We’re at the 600 level of drought, and the next level is dessert-like conditions, “he said.

Yeakley also said fireworks can be deadly in the hands of amateurs.  

“We see serious injuries,” he said. Those span the range from burns to hand, eye and head injuries. There’s a big problem is with those attempting to make their own fireworks."

In 2009, emergency departments throughout the nation saw a spike in fireworks-related injuries. The number rose from 7,000 in 2008 to nearly 9,000 the next year. Men typically suffer the most injuries, and so do young people,  according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The NFPA says more fires are typically reported on the Fourth of July than on any other day. Fireworks spark more than half those fires.  Nationally, property damage from fireworks over around $20 million annually.

Locally, that’s cause for concern. Firefighters are also concerned about the fire hazard conditions that currently exist in Florida. That’s why Yeakley urges consumers to attend public displays rather than setting off any fireworks – or sparklers of their own.

 Yeakley’s message is simple:

“Leave fireworks to commercial vendors who have a permit to do displays.”

In the meantime, keep these safety tips from state officials handy for the Fourth of July:

• Keep children away from fireworks and ensure that they are supervised
• Do not allow children to pick up fireworks that may be left over after a fireworks display. They may still be active.
• Wear protective gloves because sparklers can be extremely hot.
•  Never hold a child while using sparklers.
•  Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time.
• Never use a sparkler when barefoot. Wear close-toe shoes.
• When the sparkler is spent, drop it into a bucket of water.
•  Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person.
• Never throw sparklers.
• Always hold sparklers an arm’s length away.
• Sparklers should be pointed away from homes, leaves, foliage, debris and flammable substances.

  Stay tuned to Patch for updates on the status of planned displays.