Harrisburg, PA – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) launched its annual fireworks safety campaign to promote responsible celebrations and prevent injuries and property damage.
Fireworks are a staple of summer holiday festivities, but they do come with risks. According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were eight fireworks-related deaths and 9,700 fireworks-related injuries resulting in emergency room visits, with children younger than 15 accounting for nearly one third of fireworks injuries. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports fireworks were responsible for 31,302 fires in 2022, causing approximately $109 million in property damage.
Fireworks are capable of causing serious injury or death and must be treated with extreme caution. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep themselves and their fellow Pennsylvanians safe. We also want to remind anyone planning purchase and display fireworks to adhere to local laws regarding fireworks usage, and to read and follow all manufacturer safety guidelines.
—State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook
The OSFC's campaign emphasizes that fireworks injuries are largely preventable and urges Pennsylvanians to follow these safety guidelines:
- Avoid alcohol and drugs: Never use fireworks after consuming alcohol, illegal drugs, or medications that can impair judgment.
- Supervise children: Never allow young children to handle fireworks. Sparklers, which burn at 2,000°F, are the second leading cause of fireworks-related ER visits.
- Prepare for emergencies: Keep a bucket of water, hose, or fire extinguisher nearby when setting off fireworks.
- Use protective gear: Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.
- Handle fireworks properly: Never hold fireworks in your hand or place any part of your body over them.
- Maintain a safe distance: Never light fireworks inside, near people, or near buildings.
- Dispose of fireworks safely: Soak spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding them.
- Keep pets safe: Keep pets indoors, close curtains or blinds, and provide background noise to reduce stress.
- Stay legal: Illegal fireworks should never be used.
Pennsylvania’s fireworks law allows anyone who is at least 18 years old to purchase, possess and use consumer-grade fireworks such as bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, and similar fireworks containing up to 50 milligrams of explosive material. The law sets penalties, including a fine of up to $500 for a first offense, for intentionally using consumer fireworks:
- On private property or on public property without the express permission of the owner.
- Within, directed at, or directed from, a vehicle or building.
- Directed at another person.
- While under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Within 150 feet of a building or vehicle, whether or not the building or vehicle is owned by the user of the consumer fireworks.
The law does not include ground and handheld sparkling devices, novelties or toy caps, which are permitted at all times.
“It’s important to remember that while consumer-grade and novelty fireworks are legal, improper use can lead to serious injuries or fires,” said Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher Paris. “Please follow the laws and use fireworks safely and responsibly.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) reminds visitors that fireworks are prohibited on public lands. In Pennsylvania, 99 percent of all wildfires are caused by people as a result of debris burning, equipment use, campfires, and sometimes fireworks.
“State parks and forests are great destinations for Great American Getaways in the summer months and we expect to welcome millions of visitors to public lands,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “With that in mind, we ask that the public take all necessary precautions to protect the Commonwealth’s lands for the season as we continue to see dry conditions that make fireworks and other fire risks more likely to create wildfires.”
The greatest danger of wildfires in Pennsylvania occurs during the spring months of March, April, and May, and the autumn months of October and November. The Commonwealth has seen an increase in wildfires in recent years – including two recent wildfires in Michaux State Forest – and is encouraging Pennsylvanians to practice safe behavior to help those protecting Penn’s Woods from dangerous wildland fires.
Find more information on fireworks safety on the OSFC website.
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