Safety

Enjoy the many supervised professional displays!

All across the state there are many professional fireworks displays supervised by local fire departments. Unfortunately, too many children and adult amateurs continue to set off fireworks that start fires, and cause serious injuries to themselves and others.

Fireworks can be deadly!

On May 20, 1997 a 26-year old man from Watertown was killed while he was lighting fireworks in a hallway. A 27-year old Framingham man was killed July 4, 1993, when his backyard fireworks exploded in his face.
On July 4, 1992, fireworks fatally injured a 30-year old man on a Fairhaven beach.
A 45-year old Gloucester woman died in a December 22, 2003 house fire when somone threw fireworks and ignited the Christmas tree in the living room. Three other people were injured.

All fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts.

The possession and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane” such as sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners and cherry bombs, to name a few. Sparklers burn at 1800°F.

It is illegal to transport fireworks into Massachusetts, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere. Illegal fireworks can be confiscated on the spot.

Do not purchase fireworks through mail-order or on-line catalogues.

The distribution of mail-order catalogues that clearly state that fireworks are illegal in some jurisdictions cannot be prohibited. State and local police regularly confiscate illegal shipments of fireworks into Massahcusetts. Many unhappy consumers have lost both their money and the fireworks trying to circumvent the law.

Set a good example for your children.

Children imitate what they see adults do.

If you use fireworks children will imitate you, not realizing how very dangerous they are. Sixty percent of the fireworks-related burn injuries reported by hospitals to the Office of the State Fire Marshal were children under age 18.

Fireworks Injuries

MFIRS facts!

In the past decade (1996-2005) there have been 577 major fire and explosion incidents involving illegal fireworks reported to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS). These 577 fires and explosions caused 17 civilian injuries, nine fire service injuries, two civilian fatalities and an estimated dollar loss of $1,647,187. This is quite a substantial amount since most fireworks related fires are outside brush fires and do not usually have high loss figures. A majority of these fires occurred during the week of the Fourth of July holiday.

On June 24, 2005, the Boston Fire Department was called to a rooftop fire at a manufacturing facility. Someone had shot fireworks at the building’s roof and they ignited the asphalt roofing materials. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $5,000.
On July 3, 2005, the Rowley Fire Department was called to a boat fire. A burning ember from a massive illegal fireworks display landed on top of the boat cover. The boat fire ignited the nearby single-family residence. Total damages were estimated to be $20,000.
On July 4, 2005, the Newton Fire Department was dispatched to a garage fire. Children playing with skyrockets accidentally ignited a mattress that was being stored inside of the garage. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $12,500.
On July 5, 2005, the Boston Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in a ‘three-decker’ apartment building. Someone playing with fireworks accidentally ignited the third story exterior balcony. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $2,000.
On July 8, 2005, the Amesbury Fire Department was called to a fire in a backyard shed. A 14-year old boy was playing with fireworks and accidentally ignited the shed on fire. Damages from this fire were estimated to be $8,000.

M-BIRS facts!

In the past decade (1996-2005), 51 people have been treated at Massachusetts emergency rooms for severe burn injuries from fireworks – burns covering 5% of more of the body. Sixty one percent (61%), of the victims were children under the age of 18. One-quarter were children between 10 and 14 years old. During the last 10 years the oldest reported person injured by fireworks was a 47-year old man and the youngest was a little boy less than one year old.
On June 30, 2004, a 27-year old Billerica man received burns to 18% of his body surface area from an explosion of gunpowder while he was trying to make home made fireworks.
One July 3, 2005, a 12-year old Plymouth boy received 2nd degree burns to his face when fireworks exploded in front of him.
On July 4, 2005, 42-year old Hingham man was burned on his face and upper extremities when the fireworks he was using exploded prematurely.
On July 9, 2005, a 22-year old Marshfield man received burns to his foot when a firework fell into his shoe.