By: Emergent Team
Fireworks are a festive tradition across the country, especially during summer holidays like the Fourth of July. But with the celebration comes real risk. Fire departments often see a surge in emergency calls related to fireworks, including fires, injuries, and property damage. A proactive approach to firework safety both in the community and within department operations can reduce these risks and ensure a safer holiday for everyone.
What Are the Best Firework Safety Tips for the Fourth of July?
The best firework safety tips include using legal fireworks only, keeping water nearby, maintaining a safe distance, and never allowing children to handle fireworks. Local fire departments also recommend attending professional shows rather than lighting fireworks at home.
Common Firework-Related Hazards
Each year, fireworks cause thousands of injuries and numerous structure or wildland fires. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), almost 10,000 firework-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2023. Burns, eye injuries, and hearing damage are among the most common. Fireworks can also spark grass fires, house fires, and vehicle fires, especially in dry conditions.
Local ordinances often regulate firework use, but not everyone follows them. Fire departments should be ready to both respond and educate, with inspection tools and data systems helping anticipate and reduce risk.
How Fire Departments Can Prepare
Holidays like the Fourth of July bring elevated risk, but also opportunity for community outreach. Here are several ways fire departments can prepare:
1. Public Education Campaigns
Launch a short-term campaign leading up to the holiday. Use social media, local news, and station signage to remind residents about safe firework handling. Share firework safety stats, tips, and warnings about illegal use. A downloadable checklist or printable flyer can go a long way.
2. Pre-Incident Planning
Identify high-risk areas in your community: parks, large events, and residential zones with dry vegetation. Fire departments using pre-plan mapping tools can create overlays for these hotspots and assign staging locations for rapid deployment if needed.
3. Inspection and Code Enforcement
Leading up to the holiday, increase inspections for event permits, vendor fireworks sales, and commercial displays. Use inspection software to streamline documentation and flag repeat offenders or hazards.
4. Crew and Fleet Readiness
With staffing stretched thin during high-volume weekends, check apparatus readiness ahead of time. Use fleet dashboards or telematics to ensure equipment is in peak condition, and revisit rehab protocols for long shifts or wildland standby.
How Technology Helps Prevent Firework Emergencies
Fire departments using data-driven tools are in a better position to respond quickly and efficiently to firework-related incidents. At Emergent, our platform allows departments to monitor inspection trends, generate real-time maps for response coordination, and track response data that helps reduce future risks. Mobile reporting tools help crews document incidents on scene, while integrated dashboards give leadership a clearer picture of activity spikes around holiday events.
Collaborate with Your Community
Firework safety is a shared responsibility. When fire departments partner with law enforcement, event organizers, and neighborhood associations, the message is amplified. Consider community pop-ups at fireworks stands, open houses before the holiday weekend, or quick social video campaigns. Showing a visible presence can be a deterrent for unsafe behavior.
A Safer Holiday Starts with Planning
Firework season doesn’t have to mean chaos. With early preparation, solid communication, and the right technology in place, departments can manage the risks and help their communities celebrate safely.
If your department is looking for better ways to track incidents, plan ahead, or report more efficiently during high-risk holidays, Emergent’s platform offers powerful, customizable tools to support you. Contact us to learn how Emergent can help your department.
