Fireworks Are Illegal In Montgomery County, Fire Officials Warn

SILVER SPRING, MD — As the Fourth of July approaches, Montgomery County fire officials are reminding residents that fireworks are not only dangerous, but illegal.

"If it detonates, if it shoots or elevates, it is illegal," County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said. "The main concern is the safety of all our residents. Fireworks are illegal throughout Montgomery County."

Yes, that includes sparklers.

According to Goldstein, people frequently underestimate how dangerous these hand-held fireworks can be.

"The biggest concern, or the biggest eye opener that people get, is the question of how hot the very tip of a sparkler gets. That can get up to 2,000 degrees," he said. "So the sheer fact of giving a sparkler to a child and waving it around — that's a 2,000-degree burning point that's moving around."

A sparkler that burns at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit can cause severe burns and even melt some metals.

The National Fire Protection Association says sparklers account for more than 25 percent of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries.

"Fireworks are best handled by the professionals and fireworks are best viewed at formal and official events, which will be very limited this year," Goldstein said.

Montgomery County fireworks displays have been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the City of Gaithersburg says it will host a number of virtual family-friendly events.

Details of those events have not yet been released. But Patch will update this post once they are announced. They will also be posted on Gaithersburg.gov.