Illegal Fireworks…. Pointless!
06/24/2008
FRESNO, CA (June 27, 2008) – Every year deaths, injuries, and fire occurs as a result of illegal fireworks use. In 2006 the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 11 deaths associated with fireworks. Two people were killed when they were struck by aerial fireworks that had just been launched. A third person was killed when an aerial firework exploded on a section of concrete causing a piece of concrete to strike the victim. Three more people were killed in fires started by fireworks and one person was killed in a gas tank explosion where fireworks were the ignition source. Additionally, fireworks were involved in an estimated 9,200 injuries treated in U. S. hospital emergency departments during calendar year 2006.
This Fourth of July, the City of Fresno will allow the use of only state-approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Fireworks stands will be selling only approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks.
The purchase of “Safe and Sane” fireworks will be allowed from June 28, 2008 through July 6, 2008; however, they may only be discharged on Tuesday, July 4, 2008, from 8:00 p.m. until midnight.
Fire departments in four Central Valley counties have again instituted a “Zero Tolerance” enforcement policy toward illegal fireworks and explosives. If it leaves the ground or explodes it is considered an illegal firework. This means that any fireworks other than the “Safe and Sane” type are considered illegal. The California State Fire Marshal advises that illegal fireworks (i.e., firecrackers, M-80s, and bottle rockets) account for more than 92 percent of the fire damage and injuries caused by fireworks each year.
This year, Fresno, Clovis and Kerman will be out in force issuing $1,000 citations to anyone found in possession of or using illegal fireworks. Twelve (12) teams of two (one police officer and one firefighter) will be canvassing the Fresno area. As always, the department offers amnesty to those individuals who wish to drop off illegal fireworks at any fire station. No questions asked.
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Please not the results from a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2006:
• The parts of the body most often injured were hands (estimated 2,300 injuries), eyes (1,500 injuries) and the head, face and ear (1,400 injuries).
• About three times as many males were injured as females.
• Injuries to children were a major component of total fireworks-related injuries with children under 15 accounting for 36 percent of the estimated injuries. Children and young adults under 20 had 47 percent of the estimated injuries.
• Among different types of fireworks, firecrackers were associated with the greatest number of estimated injuries at 1,300. There were 1,000 injuries associated with sparklers and 800 associated with rockets. Sparklers accounted for one-third of the injuries to children less than 5 years of age.
• Staff estimated that there were a small number of emergency department-treated injuries (100) at public fireworks displays.
• More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all parts of the body except the eyes and head areas, where contusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eye occurred more frequently.
The Fresno Fire Department wishes you a joyous and safe Independence Day.
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