Think that sparkler won't hurt you? Think again. 5 tips for staying safe on July 4th
Pop-up tents to grocery stores are selling fireworks throughout metro Phoenix, but make sure you are legal and safe this Fourth of July season.
Fireworks, including ground spinners, sparkling wheel devices, and cylindrical, square or cone fountains, are only legal during certain holidays. Arizona's window to legally use fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday is June 24 to July 6.
Any fireworks that shoot high into the sky and make excessively loud noise are illegal without a permit, such as bottle rockets and firecrackers. However, large fireworks displays can be enjoyed at professional shows, such as the annual fireworks show at Steele Indian School Park.
Small "novelty" fireworks such as snappers (pop-its), party poppers, glow worms, snakes, toy smoke devices and sparklers are legal year-round in Arizona, but should still be used with caution.
Sparklers account for nearly a third of fireworks-related injuries, according to a 2013 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sparklers burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Mark Barbee, a Peoria fire captain and department spokesperson. For comparison, glass melts at 900 degrees, and a cake is baked at around 350 degrees, he said.
People using sparklers should stand at least 10 feet away from others. And soak the sparklers in a bucket of water when done.
Barbee suggests that children under 12 should never handle fireworks, and older children should do so only with adult guidance.
Don't become a statistic: fireworks safety tips
An average of 240 people per day go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries during the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July, according to the safety commission report.
Barbee and other city public safety officials offered these tips for staying safe:
Make space
Some seasonally permitted fireworks, such as ground spinners or fountains, shoot sparks into the air. Move out of range of any stray sparks immediately after lighting.
Consider your clothing
People lighting fireworks should wear loose, non-flammable clothing.
Keep a water bucket or hose handy
If fireworks are not extinguished correctly or are set off too close to highly flammable items such as dry leaves or grass, there is a high risk of setting fires that could spread between yards and houses.
The best way to prevent a fire when lighting fireworks on residential property is to keep a bucket of water and a hose nearby, and to soak all extinguished fireworks, including sparklers, in water before disposing of them.
Only set off fireworks on cement
Some may be tempted to set off fireworks in some of the wide-open desert areas around the Valley, but it is actually illegal to set off fireworks on public or city property, including open desert. Seasonally permitted fireworks must only be used on private residential property, away from anything flammable and with a bucket of water readily on hand.
Fireworks are especially dangerous in the desert due to dry plants and brush that is highly flammable and can lead to a brush fire. Barbee said residents in north Peoria, for example, can be at high risk of brush fires due to the abundance of open desert land.
To avoid brush fires, Barbee said to only use fireworks on concrete areas such as the driveway or street in front of one's house.
Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fireworks safety tips for 4th of July
