Fireworks

ENJOY THE MANY SUPERVISED PROFESSIONAL DISPLAYS!

All across the state there are many professional fireworks displays supervised by local fire departments. Unfortunately, too many children and adult amateurs continue to set off fireworks that start fires, and cause serious injuries to themselves and others.

ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS.

The possession and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks which are sometimes falsely called "safe and sane" such as sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners and cherry bombs, to name a few. Sparklers burn at 1800F.

It is illegal to transport fireworks into Massachusetts, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere. Illegal fireworks can be confiscated on the spot.

DO NOT PURCHASE FIREWORKS THROUGH MAIL-ORDER OR ON-LINE CATALOGUES.

The distribution of mail-order catalogues that clearly state that fireworks are illegal in some jurisdictions cannot be prohibited. State and local police regularly confiscate illegal shipments of fireworks into Massachusetts. Many unhappy consumers have lost both their money and the fireworks trying to circumvent the law.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. CHILDREN IMITATE WHAT THEY SEE ADULTS DO.

If you use fireworks children will imitate you, not realizing how very dangerous they are. Sixty percent of the fireworks related burn injuries reported by hospitals to the Office of the State Fire Marshal were children under age 18.

FIREWORKS CAN BE DEADLY!

A 45 year old Gloucester woman died in a December 22, 2003 house fire when someone threw fireworks and ignited the Christmas tree in the living room. Three other people were injured. On May 20. 1997 a 26 year old man from Watertown was killed while he was lighting fireworks in a hallway. A 27 year old Framingham man was killed July 4, 1993, when his backyard fireworks exploded in his face. On July 4, 1992, fireworks fatally injured a 30 year old man on a Fairhaven beach.

MFIRS FACTS!

In the past decade (1997 - 2006) there have been 615 major fire and explosion incidents involving illegal fireworks reported to the Massachusetts Fire incident Reporting System (MFIRS). These 615 fires and explosions caused two deaths, 16 civilian injuries, eight fire service injuries, and an estimated dollar loss of $1,478,026. This is quite a substantial amount since most fireworks related fires are outside brush fires and do not usually have high loss figures. A majority of these fires occurred during the week of Fourth of July holiday.

• On July 4, 2006, the New Bedford Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in a 3-unit
• apartment building. Someone playing with fireworks accidentally ignited the roof on fire. Detectors were present, alerted the occupants and no one was injured in this fire. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $20,000.
• On July 2, 2006, the Boston Fire Department was dispatched to a car fire. Someone intentionally tossed some fireworks into the vehicle. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $1,000.
• On April 25, 2006, the Bolton Fire Department was called to a multiple car fire at Nashoba Regional High School. An 18-year old male student tossed a firecracker through the sunroof of one of the cars, igniting the front seat. Four other cars were destroyed by the fire, and four other cars had heat damage.
• On January 20, 2006, the Yarmouth Fire Department was called to a fire at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. Someone had intentionally ignited fireworks on an exterior stairway. No one was injured in this fire.
• On January 7, 2006, the Boston Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in a 14-unit apartment building. Someone intentionally ignited fireworks in first floor corridor.

M-BIRS FACTS!

• In the past decade (1997-2006), 47 people have been treated at Massachusetts emergency rooms for severe burn injuries from fireworks - burns covering 5% or more of the body. Sixty two percent (62%), of the victims were children under the age of 18. Over 1/4 were children between 10 and 14 years old. During the last 10 years the oldest reported person injured by fireworks was a 47 year old man and the youngest was a little boy less than one year old.
• On July 3, 2005, a 12-year old Plymouth boy received 2nd degree burns to his face when fireworks exploded in front of him.
• On July 4, 2005, 42 year old Hingham man was burned on his face and upper extremities when the fireworks he was using exploded prematurely.
• On July 9, 2005, a 22 year old Marshfield man received burns to his foot when a firework fell into his shoe.
• On August 25, 2006, a 15 year old Chelsea youth received burns to his left leg when a firecracker ignited his pants.

Information was obtained from the Fire Marshal's Office