Safety Officials Urge Caution with Home Fireworks

New Hampshire fire officials urge people to use extra caution with home fireworks this Fourth of July holiday season.

State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan and Chief David Parenti, the president of the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, said in a public service announcement that many consumers forget that they are playing with explosives with their home fireworks. 

"Fireworks are explosives devices and are dangerous and unpredictable," Degnan said in a press release. "The few seconds of pleasure that firework displays may bring to family and friends are not worth the risk of permanent scarring, loss of vision and hearing, dismemberment or even death."

Degnan notes that wooded areas, homes and even vehicles have become engulfed in flames because of fireworks.

Parenti said a substantial portion of structure fire property loss is due to fireworks, typically involving rockets. "Sparklers burn at a temperature of more 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit," Parenti says in the announcement. "To put this into perspective, water boils at 212°F and glass melts at 900°F. Please keep them out of the hands of small children."

Degnan said New Hampshire State law requires:

• You must be 21 or older to purchase permissible fireworks.

• You must be 21 or older to display permissible fireworks.

• You must be in a community that allows the use of permissible fireworks.

• You must be on your own private property or have written permission of the property owner.

For those using consumer fireworks, Degnan also recommends the following:

• Check your local fire department to make sure that fireworks are permitted in your community.
• Always follow the specific directions for each item.
• Be sure to have an extinguishing device readily accessible i.e. water hose, bucket of water, fire extinguisher.
• Stay the recommended distance away from buildings and viewers and avoid areas with dry brush, grass or debris; flying sparks easily ignite them.
• Light one item at a time and never inside an enclosed container.
• Never attempt to relight a firework or a non-functioning firework.
• Never allow children to handle fireworks or to pick up leftover fireworks debris off the ground.