LAKE HAVASU CITY – The Lake Havasu City Fire Department would like to encourage everyone to leave fireworks to the professionals and enjoy the public display held on Saturday, July 4th over beautiful Lake Havasu.
For those that choose to celebrate at home, they ask that you understand the risks of handling fireworks and know how to prevent serious injury. Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day, but it is important to remember that they can be dangerous. Each year, thousands of people are injured while using consumer fireworks. Children younger than 15 years of age account for more than one-third of injuries.
Not only is it important to understand the dangers, but you should also know what is legal in the city. The use, discharge, or ignition of consumer permissible fireworks within city limits is only allowed from June 24 through July 6 and December 24 through January 3 of each year on your private property, except when a federal or state agency implements fire restrictions on these dates. Consumer permissible fireworks are ground-based devices that will only emit showers, flames, sparks, or smoke.
Novelty items are legal for sale and use throughout the year. This includes sparklers, cone or cylinder fountains, toy smoke devices, snakes, and party poppers.
Aerial devices and explosive firecrackers, which leave the ground, are prohibited at all times. Some examples of prohibited aerial consumer fireworks are sky lanterns, bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, M80s, and cherry bombs.
Tips to celebrate safely:
- Never allow young children to play with, or ignite, fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move away quickly.
- Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device to prevent a trash fire.
- Make sure you are only using fireworks that are legal in your area and only purchase fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
- For more fireworks, safety tips visit www.cpsc.gov/fireworks.
If you have any questions regarding the use, sale, or possession of fireworks, please contact the Lake Havasu City Fire Marshal’s office at (928) 855-1141
