Firework safety tips ahead of Fourth of July celebrations

The Fourth of July holiday comes tightly packaged with the yearly obsession and sale of fireworks — a mainstay for many families' holiday's traditions with outdoor grilling, watermelon and American flags.

Though fireworks that blow up or leave the ground are illegal in Colorado, dating back to the initial ban in 2002, "safe and sane" fireworks like fountains, smoke bombs, snakes and sparklers are legal in the state.

But even those less-than-exploding fireworks bring about safety concerns.

"With any aerial or non-aerial firework, the safety tips are basically the same," Sherri Simmons, a spokesperson with TNT Fireworks, told The Denver Gazette.

These safety tips, as provided by TNT Fireworks, are as follows:

• Never give fireworks to children
• Have a hose or bucket of water nearby
• Never carry a firework in your pocket or hold a lit firework in your hand
• Keep spectators at a safe distance and never throw them at another person
• Never place any part of your body directly over a firework
• Light only one firework at a time
• Never use fireworks after ingesting alcohol or drugs
• Never approach or try to re-ignite a firework that doesn't light the first time

Along with these general tips, Simmons added that disposal and legality are the two biggest things overlooked with fireworks.

"One of the biggest pieces of information people forget is to let your fireworks soak overnight before disposing them," she said. "The shows over, everyone has had fun and people forget about safe disposal. Safe disposal, with any type of firework, is key."

Whether fireworks have been used or unused, they should be soaked in water until fully saturated before disposal. They should then be placed in doubled trash bags and put in your trash the day it is picked up or taken to a landfill, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

If a firework is lit and doesn't go off as intended, it should be left alone for at least five minutes, TNT Fireworks Safety Expert James Fuller said.

Spectators, especially children, should remain away from fireworks — even those considered safe and sane.

"I know there's always a tendency to let children play with sparklers," Fuller said. "But a sparkler can burn at 18,000 degrees. So, that can burn very quickly."

Those using fireworks should also keep their pets away and secured, for even the bright lights of legal fireworks can cause them stress, Fuller said.

TNT Fireworks also recommends that you use any firework at a location with a flat and non-flammable surface like asphalt or concrete.

Legality remains a cardinal fireworks rule, too.

Legality

Fireworks ordinances and restrictions vary from city to city and county to county, too. For example, all fireworks, including those that do not leave the ground, are illegal in Denver. Aurora, on the other hand, allows fireworks if they do not leave the ground or explode.

Bringing exploding fireworks back from a state that can legally sell them — like Wyoming — does not circumvent the laws set in place by the state of Colorado, either.

"Wherever you're going to use your fireworks, make sure you're using them legally. That means when and where," Fuller said.

Visit your specific city or county's website to find out more information regarding firework restrictions.

"Each year, the careless use of fireworks contributes to personal injuries and significant financial losses to property owners, insurance companies and the community," the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said in a press release regarding Fourth of July fireworks.

They added that the use of illegal fireworks could also result in criminal charges such as arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and civil penalties for damages caused by the illegal fireworks.

The week surrounding the holiday always bring about an excess in calls to local police departments, the office said.

Multiple departments, including Denver, ask that you do not call 911 to report the illegal use of fireworks unless there is an actual fire.

In order to keep emergency call lines open and responders distributed equally, the Douglas County set up a hotline at 303-814-7118 from 6 p.m. till midnight on July 3-6 to report illegal firework usage. The county's non-emergency number, 303-660-7500 , can be used outside those dates and times.

For Denver County, that number is 720-913-2059.