Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings wants you and your family to have a fun and safe 4th of July. The best way to do that is to be prepared and know your local laws.

Some are still surprised to learn that the use or sale of ALL FIREWORKS including so called "safe and sane" have been illegal in the City of Los Angeles since 1942, except at approved fireworks shows of course.

As you can imagine, every 4th of July is one of the busiest days of the year for emergency services, and most calls are for fires and injuries caused by people using illegal fireworks. All too often, firefighters care for painful and disfiguring firecracker injuries that happen to the eyes, hands, head, and face.

Here are four statistics to contemplate...

1. Almost half of all people injured were children under the age of 15.
2. According to the United States eye registry, more bystanders are injured by fireworks than by the people who set them off.
3. Sparklers can heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (that is hot enough to melt gold).
4. The highest numbers of injuries are firecrackers (26%), rockets (21%), and sparklers (11%). 

Playing with fireworks can hurt your pocketbook and calendar too. Possessing fireworks is a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of $1,000 and/or one year in jail. In addition, our law enforcement friends remind you of the obvious dangers associated with discharging firearms into the air.

Your LAFD is committed to safety and thus started the Anti-Fireworks campaign in 1982 and participates in an annual joint 4th of July Anti-Fireworks Press Conference, educating and informing citizens, all in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and property loss caused by illegal fireworks.

We need your help: 

• If you see a fire, call 9-1-1. 
• Remind others to never experiment with or make their own fireworks.
• Never let anyone touch or pick up a dud firecracker that is lying on the ground.

Lets not forget about our furry friends. Remember, they have very sensitive hearing and can be stressed or frightened due to noise from fireworks. So, how about keeping your pets indoors with the windows closed and the air conditioner on? Give them the night off and let them enjoy the television or radio, it helps to block some of the noise.

"Prevent a nightmare on the 4th of July. Stay away from playing with fireworks, and play it safe by attending a public fireworks display." - Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings

FOR A LIST OF FIREWORKS SHOWS IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA:

safejuly4th.org or (888) 654-FIRE
     

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department