Lighting up the sky is a fun part of many of our most favorite holiday celebrations. For many of us, it just isn’t the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve without family and friends and a whole lot of sparklers, fountains, roman candles, spinners, and snaps. Unfortunately, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day of the year, and more than half of those fires are caused by fireworks.
Traditional Firework Holidays
Some holidays just aren’t complete without a spark or two. You get together a crowd or a neighborhood crew and end the night with a beautiful, colorful bang.
- New Year’s Eve
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Halloween
- Veterans Day
- The Fourth of July
- Presidents’ Day
Protecting Your Home During Fireworks
If you are planning to light up your own holidays this year, or have neighbors who do, it is important to make sure you take precautions to prevent fires caused by fireworks.
- Have one person lighting and handling your fireworks.
- Know what you are using and any related safety information.
- Buy only legal, consumer-grade products from a licensed dealer.
- Keep water on hand and wet the area once you are finished.
- Use a level, solid ground for launch.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Keep kids and pets safe.
- Take time to prepare your home and yard.
1. Have A Designated Fire Handler
Stopping accidents and the spread of fire starts with isolating who is handling it. Have a designated shooter to light the fireworks. The shooter should wear safety glasses to protect the eyes and face from injuries.
Make sure your hands and face are not right over what you are lighting. Do not attempt to relight a firework if it does not ignite the first time.
2. Know What You Are Setting Off
Bigger is not always better, especially if it ends up causing property damages or hurting your spectators. Know the fireworks you are using. Make sure you are not using anything illegal. Purchase only consumer products from a licensed dealer. Read all the safety and warning labels carefully.
3. Don’t DIY Your Fireworks
Make sure only to use the products you buy as they are intended. It’s never a good idea to combine fireworks together to light off as one. Trying to make your own spectacle can lead to unexpected explosions.
4. Keep Water On Hand To Douse Unintended Flames
Get a hose and bucket of water handy. The hose can be used to put out any stray flames and sparks. You should hose down any fireworks that don’t ignite.
Wet the ground where the fireworks were lit when your celebration ends. Firefighters have to respond to many small grass fires and small fires in trash cans and dumpsters.
5. Keep Rainbow Shooters & Spark Missiles On Solid Ground
Fireworks should be set on level, solid ground. If the only area you can use is grassy or uneven, place your fireworks upon a wooden board.
6. Plan Your Light & Launch Area Wisely
Plan an outdoor space away from homes and buildings where people will be for the show. Check labels for the required safety distances of each firework. You should stand at least 15 feet away from burning cones and fountains.
7. Keep An Eye On Kids & Pets As You Celebrate
Children should not handle fireworks. Both kids and pets need to be closely supervised while viewing them. Store unused fireworks in a dry, cool place out of the reach of children.
Learn what to do in the event of injury. Make sure to familiarize yourself with basic first-aid skills in case they are needed when you light fireworks.
8. Watching Out For Neighbors’ Fireworks
If you’re not the one with the fireworks, you’ll still want to prep your property to prevent disaster. House fires can start and spread quickly.
- Clear Your Gutters
- Trim Trees
- Run The Sprinklers
- Remove Any Dry Brush
- Wet The Perimeter Around Your Property
House Fire Cleanup In California
We share these tips with the hopes that your holiday celebration will be safe and fun. If fireworks get out of hand this year, you can rely on us for house fire cleanup or repairs. Contact us at Disaster Kleenup Specialists. Our experts in fire restoration can assist you in the Monterey and Santa Cruz, California, areas.