In honor of “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” our local skies will light up with fireworks this Fourth of July Holiday weekend.
Fireworks and Fourth of July are tied together like peanut butter and jelly, another All-American favorite.
However, with all the fun and excitement fireworks can generate during this festive weekend, it can also wreak havoc, causing injury and fires. There were 1,236 fireworks-related injuries and fires reported to the State Fire Marshal’s Office in 2009 by fire departments and hospitals. Of those reports, there were 1,036 fires and 200 injuries. To add insult to injury, if you are lighting off fireworks within the Redmond city limits it can lead to a fine — up to $5,000 and maybe even jail time — up to a year — or both. Possession of illegal explosive devices, such as M-80’s, M-100’s and larger, altered fireworks, and public display mortars, is a federal offense.
For those living outside the city limits, it is legal to set off fireworks, but only on July 4 from 9 a.m. to midnight. Fireworks sales legally began on June 28 and continue daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. through July 4. No sales can occur after July 4. To purchase fireworks, you must be at least 16 years of age with picture identification.
If you must set off fireworks — in a legal area and time zone — State Fire Marshal Charles Duffy says to remember the three B’s of fireworks safety:
• Be prepared: Have water nearby and put your pets indoors.
• Be safe: Only adults should light off fireworks (of the 200 fireworks-related injuries suffered in 2009, 66 affected children under the age of 14).
• Be responsible: Clean up fireworks debris.
Also, remember that summer weather conditions make grasses and other vegetation dry and susceptible to fire. A person found responsible for a wildland fire started by a fireworks device can be required to pay restitution for the fire suppression costs. Fire suppression costs of a wildland fire can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It should be noted that fireworks safety starts before a firework is even sold: It begins with the manufacturers, who need to follow strict quality controls in making their products. That doesn’t mean every firework is guaranteed to be safe, though. Things can go wrong with fireworks, and most of the time it’s because the fireworks aren’t handled properly.
The summer is heating up as we speak. Redmond and its nearby neighborhoods don’t need to feel any extra heat in the form of fires or burns caused by fireworks.
The best way to safely enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July season is to use fireworks money for more treats for the barbecue and leave the fireworks show up to the professionals.
Here are some cool, nearby Fourth of July fireworks shows that you can check out:
• Celebrate Kirkland, Kirkland: (425) 822-0284 or www.celebratekirkland.org
• Bellevue Family Fourth: (425) 453-1223 or www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth
• Fourth on the Lake, Newcastle: (425) 649-4444 or www.ci.newcastle.wa.us
• Fourth on the Plateau, Sammamish: www.ci.sammamish.wa.us
• Northshore Cities Fourth of July, Kenmore: (425) 398-8900 or www.cityofkenmore.com
For those who wish to see fireworks in Redmond, Derby Days offers its annual display at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at Redmond City Hall campus, 15670 NE 85th St.
Do your part and play it safe while enjoying the Fourth of July.
