Fireworks Safety: Leave It To The Professionals

The following is information provided by the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall's Office:

All fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts.

The possession and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks which are sometimes falsely called "safe and sane" such as sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners and cerry bombs, to name a few. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees Farenheit.

It is illegal to transport fireworks into Massachusetts, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere. Illegal fireworks can be confiscated on the spot.

Do not purchase through mail-order or online catalogues.

The distribution of mail-order catalogues that clearly state that fireworks are illegal in some jurisdicitons cannot be prohibited. State and local police regularly confiscate illegal shipments of fireworks into Massachusetts. Many unhappy consumers have lost both their money and the fireworks trying to circumvent the law.

Set a good example for your children. Children imitate what they see adults do.

If you use fireworks children will imitate you, not realizing how very dangerous they are. Over 65 percent of the fireworks-related burn injuries reported by hospitals to the Office of the State Fire Marshal were children under age 18.

Fireworks can be deadly.

A 45-year old Glouster womean died in a December 22, 2003 house fire when someone through fireworks and ignited the Christmas tree in the living room. Three other poeple were injured. On May 20, 1997, a 26-year-old man from Watertown was killed while he was lighting fireworks in a hallway. A 27-year-old Framingham man was killed July 4, 1993, when his backyard fireworks exploded next to him. On July 4, 1992, fireworks fatally injured a 30-year-old man on a Fairhaven beach.