By Rhett Glauser
The Fourth of July is around the corner, and with the Fourth comes fireworks.
Fireworks as tame as sparklers and as dangerous as illegal firecrackers may pose a threat to people and property.
“Personal safety is the first area of concern, and then property damage is also a big concern when using fireworks,” said Gary Wise, Utah State Fire Marshall.
A nationwide study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that the firecracker was the device most related to injuries over the peak holiday season in 1997.
According to the commission’s 1997 Injury Surveillance Report, the exploding firecracker, which is illegal in Utah, accounted for 32 percent of all firework-related injuries nationwide.
“We target our message to adults so that they will watch their children closely,” said Wise. “People don’t realize the personal injury that can occur when they hand a simple sparkler, which gives off anywhere from 100 to 1000 degree heat, to children.”
The most-at-risk group for firework-related injuries is 5- to 14-year-old children, according to the report.
Utah fire fighters are fighting the illegal use in Utah of fireworks bought in Wyoming or Nevada.
“Wyoming fireworks stores are advertising in northeastern Utah and people go there and bring back illegal fireworks,” said Wise. “A big part of our job is confiscating fireworks that come from Wyoming.”
“If it goes in the air or goes bang it is probably illegal,” said Provo City Fire Investigator Jim Guynn.
Fireworks that people don’t have control over tend to find their way to brush and dry grasses, Wise said.
Most Utah residential areas are considered wildland interface areas, which are in close proximity to or intermixed with natural plant growth, Wise said.
Utah is more dry than usual this year, Wise said.
Even legal fireworks like the ground flower, which spins and makes noise while flames shoot outward in a circle, can be very unpredictable and dangerous.
“Of the legal fireworks, the ground flower is the worst one I have seen,” said Springville Fire Chief Phil Whitney. “They can be very unpredictable; (they go) out in the middle of the road one minute and then hit a rock and bounce off into bushes or toward people.”
“Be safe and sane,” said Guynn. “Have a hose available, wait five to six minutes before approaching used fireworks and soak used fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them away, just to be safe.”
