With the Fourth of July looming again, South Metro Fire Rescue used a June 28 warning to remind residents how fast a party can turn into a 911 call. The department says that during last year's holiday rush, it handled dozens of incidents, including 45 fires packed into roughly six hours, and that one adult suffered serious injuries while a child was also hurt.
How Bad It Got, By The Numbers
South Metro has been hammering the point home with a short online reel and a formal safety bulletin, repeating the warning that “fireworks can turn celebrations into emergencies.” According to South Metro Fire Rescue, last July 4, crews responded to 45 fires in about six hours, and most of those incidents were traced to consumer fireworks. The department's Community Risk Reduction page at South Metro Fire Rescue echoes those totals and lists the resulting injuries.
Simple Moves That Cut Firework Risk
Fire officials say a few low-tech habits can keep celebrations from turning ugly. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose within reach, never light fireworks during a fire ban, and soak both spent and malfunctioning fireworks overnight before you throw them away. The Bucket Brigade program encourages neighborhoods to hand out buckets and teach kids to remind adults to dunk used fireworks in water, and the American Pyrotechnics Safety & Education Foundation is expanding that effort nationwide this year. For detailed disposal steps, including dunking used fireworks for at least 20 minutes and wrapping the soaked debris before it goes in the trash, officials direct residents to the Bucket Brigade guidance from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control.
Local Rules That Can Kill Your Backyard Show
Fire restrictions are not just fine print. Local fire bans and county rules can instantly turn a backyard display into something both illegal and dangerous. During a fire ban, the use of all fireworks is off-limits. Guidance on South Metro Fire Rescue also stresses buying only legal fireworks from licensed Colorado retailers and warns that fireworks tossed out improperly can ignite trash, garages, or even homes. The department urges residents to check county sheriff websites for the latest restrictions and to remember that soaked fireworks belong in the trash, not the recycling bin.
What To Do If A Firework Starts A Fire
If you spot a small fire started by fireworks, call 911 immediately and keep your distance. Fire officials say you should only try to put it out yourself with a bucket of water, a hose, or a fire extinguisher if conditions are clearly safe. Duds and spent fireworks should be soaked for at least 20 minutes and preferably overnight to avoid delayed ignition. Bucket Brigade guidance from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control has been linked to drops in post-holiday trash and garage fires in communities that follow the recommendations.
South Metro closes its warning with a blunt reminder that “the safest way to celebrate is at a professional fireworks display,” and that a few simple disposal habits can keep neighborhoods a lot safer once the holiday smoke clears.
