Last year, there were 157 fires in Florida caused by sparklers or fireworks — many of which were due to the use of fireworks not approved for use in the state, or not executed with certain precautions.
CFO and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater is reminding Floridians to celebrate this Fourth of July safely and is encouraging celebrators to first review the list of Florida-approved sparklers before setting any off.ย
Here are some safety tips for a safe Independence Day:
- Never give sparklers to young children, as sparklers can reach temperatures between 1,300 and 1,800 degrees, at least 200 degrees hotter than a standard butane lighter.
- Keep pets indoors and away from all sparklers.
- Light only one item at a time and never attempt to re-light.
- Keep a fire extinguisher and water hose on-hand for emergencies and a bucket of water available for used sparklers.
- Only purchase sparklers from licensed vendors.
- Attend a public fireworks show. Many public displays sponsored by communities or organizations are presented all across Florida.
Further, Atwater warns Floridians not to sign “waivers” when purchasing fireworks, as doing so will not clear a consumer of responsibility if caught using fireworks illegally.
