NFPA :: Research & Reports :: Fact sheets

		Fireworks

Lorraine Carli, NFPA's Vice President of Communications, talks about consumer fireworks.

NFPA’s stand on consumer fireworks
Injury statistics
NFPA’s alliance
New safety PSAs
NFPA’s gratitude to the Shannon family

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.

Fireworks fact sheet (PDF 211 KB)
NFPA report on fireworks (PDF, 656 KB)
Slideshow: NFPA press conference highlights dangers of consumer fireworks
Stories of people affected by consumer fireworks
Model fireworks law
Related reports and articles

Facts & figures

2006 fireworks injuries
by type of fireworks
(See larger image.)

2006 fireworks injuries
by type of injury
(based on injuries during
the month around July 4)
(See larger image.)

In 2005, fireworks caused an estimated 1,800 total structure fires and 700 vehicle fires reported to fire departments. These 2,500 fires resulted in an estimated 60 civilian injuries and $39 million in direct property damage. There were no reported civilian deaths.

In 2006, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,200 people for fireworks related injuries. 49% of the injuries were to the extremities and 46% were to the head. 55% of the 2006 fireworks injuries were burns, while 30% were contusions and lacerations.
The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 10-14 as for the general population.
In 2001-2005, an estimated 1 person per year was killed in reported fires started by fireworks, while 6 people per year were killed directly by fireworks.
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 report, (PDF 656 KB), by John R. Hall, Jr., May 2008

Stories of people affected by consumer fireworks
The Shannon family of Raleigh, NC, talk about losing three-year-old Michael in a consumer fireworks incident. "There is no safe way to use consumer fireworks," says Michael's mother.
Six-year-old Maddi de la Cruz was burned by a sparkler that ignited her shoe. In a matter of seconds, the sparkler created second-and third-degree burns on Maddi’s foot.

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.