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More fires are reported on July 4th than any other day of the year... So, as you prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence by enjoying the nice warm weather, boating, barbecuing, or enjoying some fireworks you also need to prepare for fire safety.
Fireworks are a lot of fun, but they pose a great risk of fire and injury. According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average fireworks start 18,500 fires each year. These fires include an estimated 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires, ultimately leading to an average of $43 million in direct property damages.
The fires and damages from fireworks are tragic, but the injuries to people are also severe. In 2017 U.S. hospital emergency rooms reported approximately 12,900 firework related injuries. And of these injuries, 54% were to extremities, like arms and legs, and 36% to the head.
See the devastating results of one fire from fireworks here:
Avoid fire damages and the emergency room this year by following some firework safety tips:
When using fireworks of any kind, keep a fire extinguisher like STOP-FYRE nearby. We recommend keeping your extinguisher within 6 seconds of your reach because every 10 seconds the fire doubles in size, and within just 30-60 seconds a fire can grow out of control. That’s why it’s so important to make sure everyone is prepared on where the extinguisher is located and how to properly use it before a fire emergency occurs.
To properly use STOP-FYRE it’s simple, in fact it’s so simple even a 4-year old can do it! Here is how to use STOP-FYRE:
See how others use STOP-FYRE, check out the action here:
If you’re still worried about the potential dangers of fireworks, don’t sweat it, go to a public firework display instead! However, if you attend a public show, make sure to obey any safety barriers and stay away from the launching site. If there is any debris from the fireworks, please be cautious. The debris could still be “live” and hot.
No matter how you choose to celebrate this 4th of July, we hope you do so safely and consider adding a fire extinguisher to your safety supplies. Because unfortunately, a fire is not a matter of if, but when.