The Sun
YUMA, Ariz. — Those who practice the American tradition of setting off fireworks this Independence Day may want to take a few common sense precautions to ensure the holiday doesn’t become a day of tragedy.
“The common emergency calls we go on during the Fourth of July are small grass fires started by fireworks,” said Robby Rodriguez, Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department public information officer.
“We have gone to calls where a firework exploded in a palm tree and caught fire. We have unfortunately been called for superficial burns caused by fireworks. Our suggestions to parents is to leave the Fourth of July fireworks displays to the professionals.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, every Fourth of July thousands of people are injured while using consumer fireworks. A large percentage of those hurt are children and teens aged 10 to 14.
Rodriguez encourages revelers who choose to use fireworks at home to review local laws affecting their usage. For example, residents inside Somerton city limits are legally not allowed to discharge fireworks.
Elsewhere in the county, the public can possess and use novelty or minor types of fireworks, such as ground and hand-held sparkler devices, cone fountains, illuminating torches, spinning wheels, and toy smoke devices.
It is important to note that legal fireworks such as sparklers pose a risk to the user since they can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees.
Many other types of fireworks remain illegal in Arizona, specifically those designed to rise into the air and explode or detonate above the ground. Those include bottle rockets, sky rockets, missile-type rockets, helicopters, torpedoes, roman candles and jumping jacks.
Residents must be at least 16 years old to buy fireworks, although it is not illegal for an adult to give fireworks to their children or grandchildren, although minors should remain under constant supervision when fireworks are in use.
According to saferfireworks.com, young people should watch and enjoy fireworks at a safe distance. Only adults should deal with the lighting of fireworks. They should also take care of the safe disposal of fireworks once they have been used.
When using consumer fireworks, residents should remain aware of their surroundings and never light fireworks close to residences, vehicles, trees, flammable materials or other people.
For more information about fireworks safety, go online to www.az-fireworks.com.
The use of any type of fireworks is prohibited on federal public lands and state trust lands in Arizona. Dry conditions have already prompted fire officials to issue fire restrictions and closures across Arizona, because any spark has the potential to ignite a new fire, and sending fireworks into the air could have devastating effects.
“In addition to fireworks, we’re very concerned with illegal campfires on public lands,” said Mike Trent, Bureau of Land Management Colorado River District fire management officer.
“With the extreme heat and fire danger across the state, it doesn’t take much to start a wildfire.”
In the Yuma area, campfires are only allowed in developed campgrounds using agency-installed fire rings.
Trent noted BLM law enforcement officers will be patrolling and looking for illegal campfires. The penalties for starting an illegal campfire can include fines up to $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both.
“America’s public lands are your public lands. If you see someone with a campfire in an area where campfires are prohibited, please report it,” Trent said.
The following fire restrictions are in effect for BLM public lands in the Yuma area.
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove. Campfires and charcoal are permitted in developed recreation sites or improved sites where agency-built fire rings or grills are provided.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, within a developed or improved recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least six feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
- Welding or the use of any torch or metal cutting or gridding implement.
For additional information on current fire restrictions, call 1-877-864-6985 or go online to http://www.firerestrictions.us.
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