As the skies over Arizona light up in celebration of Independence Day, local officials emphasize the underlying risks that accompany the iconic displays of fireworks. Citing data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 14,700 individuals were compelled to seek emergency room treatment due to injuries from fireworks last year. Tempe Fire Medical Rescue's Pat Shannahan explained there is nearly a doubling of dumpster fires in the period between June 24 and July 6, the timeframe when fireworks sales are legal in the state. "We live in a dry environment; it's the summertime, firing things up into the air that can explode and fall down on your neighbor's roof and into dry brush. That's a recipe for disaster," Shannahan told Cronkite News.
In an effort to mitigate such dangers, Shannahan urges citizens to ensure they are safely disposing of fireworks. "After you're done using fireworks, you got to make sure you dispose of them properly," Shannahan emphasized, recommending that spent fireworks should be soaked in a pail of water before throwing them away the next day. This advice, aimed to ensure they're completely extinguished, comes as a stark reminder of the arid conditions prevalent in Arizona, where errant sparks from poorly disposed-of fireworks have the potential to quickly ignite a larger blaze.
Red Hot Fireworks COO Joanna Noriega, in interviews with Phoenix New Times, advocates for consumer safety by adhering to state statutes on firework sales and providing safety information. “We go based off Arizona statute and what they allow us to sell,” Noriega said, pinpointing the company's commitment to selling only fireworks that stay within regulation, such as ground-based sparklers, smoke bombs, and fountains, while avoiding aerial or explosive fireworks that are illegal for personal use in the state.
In Tolleson, Fire Chief Michael Young adds a cautionary note to these safety discussions, advising individuals to steer clear of enabling children to use sparklers, considered innocuous by many but still capable of inflicting harm. During publicly sponsored Fourth of July events, like the one at Veterans Park, event guidelines strictly prohibit open flames, alcohol, and tobacco products to foster a safer environment. “We look for things like overgrown vegetation, not just in the immediate area of where we’re going to be launching the fireworks, but in the surrounding areas embers fall, and things happen,” Young stated in the same interview obtained by Phoenix New Times. Firefighters remain on standby during such displays to promptly address any unintended fires.
The consequences of fireworks mishaps are not merely hypothetical scenarios; they instantiate into harrowing statistics and traumatizing experiences for those standing too close or struck by errant fireworks. Following such incidents, the Phoenix Fire Department recommends keeping spectators at a safer distance, an admonition derived from injury data where victims were often too proximate to the ignition point. Along with these official recommendations, securing pets, typically distressed by the loud explosions, is another piece of advice to help ensure a celebration that is joyous rather than perilous.
