KINGSPORT — A city law that prohibits fireworks purchase or discharge coupled with easily flammable conditions outside has Kingsport fire officials urging residents to leave the July Fourth sizzles and explosions to the professionals.
Kingsport Fire Department Public Education Officer Barry Brickey says although an open burning ban in effect until further notice in the city does not cover fireworks, the law prohibits fireworks in Kingsport unless special permissions are obtained.
Furthermore, the region’s deficit in rainfall — 3 inches below normal for the year at last check — makes fireworks a potentially dangerous activity.
“I hope people do realize how dry it is out there and how just a small spark could cause a huge fire to break out in a few seconds. We want people to enjoy fireworks with their family, but the best, safest way to do that is to go to the public show being held downtown. The city hires those professionals to put on a fantastic show, and the public should go and enjoy it,” Brickey said.
Brickey said the most popular of consumer fireworks — handheld sparklers — are the ones that should not be used, especially by young children.
“This is something you can hand to a child, and it’s hot enough to melt gold,” said Brickey, talking of a sparkler’s ability to reach 1,200 degrees at the tip.
A study completed last month by the National Fire Protection Agency shows sparklers are the number one firework linked to injuries in the United States, followed by small firecrackers, reloadables, novelties and bottle rockets.
Other facts released in the report:
• 15,500 fires around the country in 2010, the most recent data available, were started by fireworks causing eight deaths, 60 civilian injuries and $36 million in direct property damage.
• 8,600 injuries were treated in emergency rooms.
• Two out of five fireworks injury victims, 39 percent, were under the age of 15.
• Independence Day carries the largest fire report log of any day of the year nationwide.
Learn more about fireworks safety at www.nfpa.org. Enter “fireworks” in the search window.