Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

06/26/2007

Fire Inspectors Conduct
Fireworks Safety Demonstration

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will conduct a fireworks safety demonstration Thursday, June, 2007, at 10 a.m., 4600 West Ox Road. The safety demonstration will provide the media an opportunity to view legal and illegal fireworks and see the damage fireworks can cause when used improperly. Fire inspectors from the Fire Marshal’s Office will be on hand to show how fireworks are mishandled and improperly used.

Every year thousands of Americans, many of them children, are victims of fireworks accidents. The majority of these accidents are serious. Fingers, hands, faces, and eyes are easy targets for fragments of burning or exploding fireworks.

Firecrackers have been known to explode the instant the fuse is ignited, sometimes severing fingers or causing eye or facial injuries. Bottle rockets, commonly used by consumers, often misfire, landing on roofs, in dry grass, or striking people.

Many people consider sparklers to be "safe." When fully ignited, a sparkler can reach a temperature of 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, which can easily ignite clothing and cause serious burns. For children under 10, sparklers are generally the most frequent cause of fireworks injuries.

Many fireworks are not available in Northern Virginia because they are illegal. Firecrackers, cherry bombs, and skyrockets are just a few examples of fireworks which may be purchased in other areas but are illegal in Virginia. Since even the possession of unapproved fireworks is prohibited in Fairfax County, such fireworks will be confiscated and persons possessing them will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. This carries a maximum penalty of a $2,500 fine and/or one year in jail. All fireworks, that explode, emit a flame, sparks, or performs as a projectile higher than 12 feet, are prohibited by the Fairfax County Fire Prevention Code.

Public fireworks displays are the most suitable and safest alternative to view fireworks. These fireworks are established under a controlled setting, safety regulations and monitored by public safety organizations.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fireworks are among the most dangerous devices in America, based on a rate of injuries per hour of exposure.

If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Keep bystanders at least 20 feet away from fireworks.
• Never throw fireworks.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.