COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN THE FIRE SERVICE

The Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks is a group of 22 health and safety organizations, coordinated by NFPA, that urges the public to avoid the use of any form of consumer fireworks and instead, to enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals. Each July Fourth, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks --  devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.

The Shannon family of Raleigh, NC, talk about losing three-year-old Michael in a consumer fireworks incident. See more photos, listen to audio from an NFPA news conference near Boston on June 27, 2007.

• Fireworks facts & figures
• Free copy of NFPA's report on fireworks (PDF, 89 KB)
• Download a handout of fireworks facts   (PDF, 100 KB)
• NFPA model fireworks law
• Fire investigation reports
• NFPA Journal® articles on fireworks

2005 fireworks injuries by type of fireworks (See larger image.)

2005 fireworks injuries by type of injury (See larger image.)

Based on injuries during the month around July 4.

• In 2004, fireworks started an estimated 1,600 structure fires and 600 vehicle fires which were reported to local fire departments. These fires resulted in 20 civilian injuries and $21 million in direct property damage. There were no reported civilian deaths.
• In 2003, 100 people were killed in a Rhode Island night club fire ignited by the indoor use of pyrotechnics in a small, crowded room with wall linings that promoted rapid flame spread. The facility had no sprinkler protection.
• In 2005, 10,800 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. More than half (54%) of 2005 fireworks injuries were burns. Contusions and lacerations were second (29%), and were twice as common as burns when the injury was to any part of the head or face, including the eye. Hands or fingers were the part of the body injured in 30% of the incidents.  In 24% of the cases, the eye was involved; other parts of the face or head accounted for 20% of the injuries.
• The highest risks of fireworks injury are to school-age children. In 2005, nearly half of the people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.  The highest injury rate relative to population was for ages 10-14 with nearly 3 times the risk of the entire population.
• Males accounted for nearly 7 out of every 10 (69%) fireworks injuries.
• Based on the amount of time and quantities in use, fireworks pose a higher risk of fire death than any other consumer product. Although cigarettes are the leading cause of fire death, the risk that someone will die from fire when fireworks are being used is higher relative to the corresponding risk when cigarettes are burning.
• On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.
• Five states ban the use of fireworks by consumers (DE, MA, NJ, NY, and RI). The other 45 states and the District of Columbia permit some or all consumer fireworks. The American Pyrotechnics Association has compiled a helpful map and directory of state-by-state fireworks control laws. 

Source: NFPA’s Fireworks, by John R. Hall, Jr., April 2007

One-Stop Data Shop report
Fireworks
John R. Hall, Jr., April 2007
Injury patterns and trends, including shares by type of fireworks, and fire patterns and trends, based on reports to hospital emergency rooms, and trends in fireworks-related fires.  Also includes published incidents.
All visitors: Download this report for free. (PDF, 258 KB)

NFPA model fireworks law
For more than half a century, NFPA has led the charge to protect the public from injuries and fires resulting from indiscriminate use of fireworks. The International Fire Marshals Association (IFMA) offers a model fireworks law (PDF, 35 KB) which reflects NFPA´s zero-tolerance policy on amateur use of fireworks.

Fire investigation reports

• Firework manufacturing, Jaffrey, NH, 8/14/88
  NFPA members: Download this report for free. (PDF, 249 KB)
• Explosion, Jennings, OK, 6/25/85, 21 fatalities.
  NFPA members:  Download this report for free. (PDF, 771 MB

NFPA Journal® articles on fireworks

• Support for NFPA’s fireworks ban grows - The Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks aims to prevent injury and fire, NFPA Journal® , May/June 2005 
• A long road back - A story about fireworks in untrained hands, NFPA Journal® , September/October 2004
• The sale of legal consumer fireworks prompts NFPA to develop a standard protecting retail consumer fireworks facilities, NFPA Journal®, May/June 2001 (PDF, 114 KB)