Fireworks Safety Tips
If you plan to celebrate a special occasion with your own family fireworks show, please read the following tips from Kingston Fire & Rescue to help keep your celebration safe.
Family fireworks should only be used in clear areas away from other structures and dry vegetation. Pay close attention to these safety guidelines.
Some fireworks safety precautions to follow are:
- Purchase your fireworks from a reliable source.
- Always read and follow the label directions.
- Check the wind. Place fireworks in a bucket of sand and incline fireworks to go away from spectators (postpone fireworks if wind is strong).
- Keep fireworks in a closed box. Remove them one at a time and close the lid.
- Keep everyone at least 25ft away from the fireworks firing line.
- Keep all pets safely indoors.
- Persons using fireworks must be at least 18 years old.
- Use outdoors only.
- Always have water handy (a garden hose or bucket).
- Never set off fireworks during an open air burning ban.
- Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
- Never take fireworks apart or modify them in any way
- Light only one firework at a time. Wear eye protection and gloves while lighting fireworks.
- Light fireworks at arms length, then immediately stand back.
- Never lean over fireworks or attempt to pick up a "dud" for at least 30 minutes (Never re-light a "dud" firework).
- Never give sparklers to children. Sparklers have been considered to be harmless fun however; they burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, and result in severe burns and/or eye injuries. The sparkler wire remains very hot after burnout and should be soaked in a bucket of water before discarding.
- Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.
- Always put discarded sparklers into a bucket of water.
- Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
- Never hold a lit firework in your hand.
- Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
- Stay away from illegal explosives. "Firecrackers" are unsafe and illegal.
