• Winter/holiday safety
• Put a Freeze on Winter Fires
• Christmas tree fires
• Halloween safety
• Fireworks
• Fireworks safety tips
• People affected by consumer fireworks
• Fireworks laws
• 2010 news conference
• Legal or not, fireworks are too risky for amateurs
• Fireworks videos
• Thanksgiving safety
• Project Holiday

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Fireworks

Leave fireworks to the professionals. Do not use consumer fireworks. Read all of NFPA's fireworks safety tips and download our free safety tip sheet. AUDIO Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Communication:    NFPA’s stand on consumer fireworks James Shannon, NFPA President:  Findings from NFPA's fireworks report Stephen Coan, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal:  Statistics of fireworks incidents over the past decade Dr. Amy Rezak, Trauma, Burn and Critical Care Surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA:   Parents underestimate the dangers of fireworks 2009 fireworks injuries by type of fireworks (See larger image) 2009 fireworks injuries by type of injury (See larger image) How hot does a sparkler burn?  (See larger image)

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 Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks is a group of health and safety organizations, coordinated by NFPA, that urges the public to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and instead, to enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals.

VIDEO: NFPA urges you to leave fireworks to the professionals.

More videos on the dangers of consumer fireworks.

Facts & figures

• In 2009, fireworks caused an estimated 18,000 reported fires, including 1,300 total structure fires, 400 vehicle fires, and 16,300 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in no reported civilian deaths, 30 civilian injuries and $38 million in direct property damage.
• In 2009, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 53% of 2009 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 42% were to the head.
• The risk of fireworks injury was highest for children agres 10-14, with more than twice the risk for the general population.
• On Independence Day in a typical year, far more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for almost half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.

Source: NFPA’s Fireworks report, by John R. Hall, Jr., June 2011

Also see: Fact sheet on fireworks. (PDF, 211 KB)

Also see: A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says that there are about 200 fireworks injuries a day during the month surrounding the Fourth of July holiday. 

Updated: 2/12

In this Section:

Fireworks safety tips Download free safety tips on fireworks. 2010 news conference Slideshow of images from NFPA's consumer fireworks demonstration

People affected by consumer fireworks Two families speak about the dangers of consumer fireworks Legal or not, fireworks are too risky for amateurs NFPA's view on the harsh realities of amateur fireworks use

Fireworks laws Four states ban the use of consumer fireworks. See model fireworks law. Fireworks videos Learn more about the dangers of consumer fireworks in these videos.