Learn Fireworks Safety From Bernards Police For A Safe Holiday

It would be hard to imagine July 4th festivities in New Jersey without public displays of fireworks, and a number of other holidays, such as New Years, often call for big shows as well. But celebrations can become tragic when someone is injured by consumer fireworks. Despite federal and state regulations on the type of fireworks available for sale to the general public, even those fireworks that are sold legally carry an elevated risk of personal injury.

Fireworks are considered hazardous materials with the potential to cause serious injury. All fireworks are regulated by the Federal Hazardous Substance Act, which prohibits sale of the more dangerous types to the public to avoid injury and property damage. Among these banned products are large, reloadable mortar shells, cherry bombs, aerial bombs, M-80s, and large firecrackers with more than 2 grains of powder. Likewise, all mail order kits to construct fireworks are strictly prohibited.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulates fireworks that can be sold legally to consumers and is responsible for setting minimum standards, such as requiring firecrackers to have fuses that burn at least three seconds but not more than nine seconds, and that all devices be sealed to prevent leakage of pyrotechnic material. Further, all legal fireworks must have labels with instructions for safe use, as well as warnings and precautions.

Although these regulations and standards have helped make consumer fireworks safer, all fireworks are potentially hazardous. For example, sparklers, which are legal in the majority of states, burn at temperatures of approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Their colorful sparks belie the potential dangers, and yet sparklers are predominately used by young children.

While fireworks are regulated by the Federal government, each state has their own laws regarding the possession and use. In New Jersey, it is unlawful to manufacture, sell, transport , possess, or use dangerous fireworks. As per the law, dangerous fireworks include any firecracker, fountain, rocket, mortar, or other device containing a compound or mixture of yellow or white phosphorous or mercury. This law also includes such devices as sparklers or fuses. A violation of the law is a crime of the fourth degree. In other words there are no legal fireworks of any kind that the average citizen may possess or use in New Jersey.

Simply performing a search on Google or You Tube in regards to the dangers of fireworks will produce enough information and documentation about the issue. Many of the injuries  that have been cause by fireworks are irreversible and can be potentially fatal.

Editor's Note: The above article was prepared by Bernards Police Detective Jon Burger. Det. Burger is Bernards Police's most senior and experienced Detective, having served in the Detective Bureau for the past 6 and a half years.