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FIrework Facts
Provided by theRifle Fire Protection District
On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.
° In 2006, fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 reported fires, including 1,700 total structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 outside and other fires.
° These fires resulted in an estimated six civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage.
Characteristics of fireworks injuries
In 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks-related injuries.
° 56 percent of 2007 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 36 percent were to the head.
° 49 percent of the 2007 fireworks injuries were burns, while 29 percent were contusions and lacerations.
° Two of five (49 percent) of people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
° The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 5-9 or 10-14 as for the general population.
° Sparklers, fountains and novelties alone accounted for 36 percent of the emergency room fireworks injuries in 2007.
Risk of private fireworks use
The risk of fire death relative to time used shows fireworks as the riskiest consumer product.
° The risk that someone will die from fire when fireworks are being used is higher relative to exposure time than the risk of fire death when a cigarette is being smoked.
° The risks with fireworks and not limited to displays, public or private. Risks also exist wherever fireworks are manufactured, transported or stored.
° “Safe and sane” fireworks are neither. Fireworks and sparklers are designed to explode or throw off showers of hot sparks. Temperatures may exceed, 1,200 Fahrenheit.
Source: Fireworks, John R. hall, Jr. NFPA Fire Analysis and Research, Quincy, MA June 2009
On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.
° In 2006, fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 reported fires, including 1,700 total structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 outside and other fires.
° These fires resulted in an estimated six civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage.
Characteristics of fireworks injuries
In 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks-related injuries.
° 56 percent of 2007 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 36 percent were to the head.
° 49 percent of the 2007 fireworks injuries were burns, while 29 percent were contusions and lacerations.
° Two of five (49 percent) of people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
° The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 5-9 or 10-14 as for the general population.
° Sparklers, fountains and novelties alone accounted for 36 percent of the emergency room fireworks injuries in 2007.
Risk of private fireworks use
The risk of fire death relative to time used shows fireworks as the riskiest consumer product.
° The risk that someone will die from fire when fireworks are being used is higher relative to exposure time than the risk of fire death when a cigarette is being smoked.
° The risks with fireworks and not limited to displays, public or private. Risks also exist wherever fireworks are manufactured, transported or stored.
° “Safe and sane” fireworks are neither. Fireworks and sparklers are designed to explode or throw off showers of hot sparks. Temperatures may exceed, 1,200 Fahrenheit.
Source: Fireworks, John R. hall, Jr. NFPA Fire Analysis and Research, Quincy, MA June 2009
RIFLE — With the exceptional amount of moisture the area received in June, the city will likely lift the fire ban and allow the use of legal fireworks for the Fourth of July weekend. The key word here, folks, is “legal.”
Illegal fireworks are anything that “leaves the ground and goes bang or blows up,” according to Fire Chief Mike Morgan and Police Chief Daryl Meisner.
The decision to lift the fireworks ban, which was put into permanent effect in April this year by the Rifle City Council, was a joint decision made by City Manager John Hier, Meisner and Morgan.
The Rifle City Council decided it was easier to have a fire ban in place and lift it if conditions warranted, rather than implementing a fire ban every year.
“We've all agreed that the risk and danger of fire this year is low because of all the rain we had,” Hier said. “So we will lift the ban from July 2 to July 5 for legal fireworks within city limits.”
The fireworks ban, when in effect, does not pertain to recreational burning such as outdoor backyard barbecues
However, lifting the fire ban does not mean that there will now be a fireworks display by the Rifle Fire Department.
“A fireworks display is a whole different animal,” Morgan said. “People need to understand why the fire department is not doing it.”
For years, members of the Rifle Fire Protection District would go door-to-door throughout the community to help raise money to fund the fireworks display which typically costs from $12,000 to $15,000, according to Morgan.
“Our primary method of getting donations was to go door-to-door through the community,” Morgan said. “But this community has grown a lot. In 1986, we could do it in five evenings. Now, we just don't have the manpower to do it. Finally last year we just said we can't do it anymore.”
And while Morgan said it is a need in the community, neither the Rifle Fire Protection District board, not the city, wants to use taxpayer's dollars to put on the display.
“We've approached various groups to see if they would take on the fundraising,” Morgan said. “And (the fire department) would be happy to assist with the display.”
The Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce was one organization that was approached about funding the fireworks.
“We don't have that kind of money,” said Annick Pruett, president and CEO of the chamber. “If the community wants fireworks, the community has to get behind it.”
The Rifle Police Department will have an increased patrol over the weekend, with an eye out for illegal fireworks or those drinking and driving.
“We always do an increased patrol as far as the drinking and driving aspect,” Meisner said. “We encourage you to enjoy yourself, please drink responsibly. And practice caution even with legal fireworks.”
Illegal fireworks are anything that “leaves the ground and goes bang or blows up,” according to Fire Chief Mike Morgan and Police Chief Daryl Meisner.
The decision to lift the fireworks ban, which was put into permanent effect in April this year by the Rifle City Council, was a joint decision made by City Manager John Hier, Meisner and Morgan.
The Rifle City Council decided it was easier to have a fire ban in place and lift it if conditions warranted, rather than implementing a fire ban every year.
“We've all agreed that the risk and danger of fire this year is low because of all the rain we had,” Hier said. “So we will lift the ban from July 2 to July 5 for legal fireworks within city limits.”
The fireworks ban, when in effect, does not pertain to recreational burning such as outdoor backyard barbecues
However, lifting the fire ban does not mean that there will now be a fireworks display by the Rifle Fire Department.
“A fireworks display is a whole different animal,” Morgan said. “People need to understand why the fire department is not doing it.”
For years, members of the Rifle Fire Protection District would go door-to-door throughout the community to help raise money to fund the fireworks display which typically costs from $12,000 to $15,000, according to Morgan.
“Our primary method of getting donations was to go door-to-door through the community,” Morgan said. “But this community has grown a lot. In 1986, we could do it in five evenings. Now, we just don't have the manpower to do it. Finally last year we just said we can't do it anymore.”
And while Morgan said it is a need in the community, neither the Rifle Fire Protection District board, not the city, wants to use taxpayer's dollars to put on the display.
“We've approached various groups to see if they would take on the fundraising,” Morgan said. “And (the fire department) would be happy to assist with the display.”
The Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce was one organization that was approached about funding the fireworks.
“We don't have that kind of money,” said Annick Pruett, president and CEO of the chamber. “If the community wants fireworks, the community has to get behind it.”
The Rifle Police Department will have an increased patrol over the weekend, with an eye out for illegal fireworks or those drinking and driving.
“We always do an increased patrol as far as the drinking and driving aspect,” Meisner said. “We encourage you to enjoy yourself, please drink responsibly. And practice caution even with legal fireworks.”
