4th Of July Fireworks Safety: Prevent Injuries In Montgomery Co.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX — Fireworks, “by their nature, are hazardous,” the Consumer Product Safety Commission states every year when issuing its annual report on the immensely popular 4th of July activity that results in the deaths of an average of at least seven Americans every year.

Those looking to celebrate the upcoming holiday in Montgomery County can take into account the damage, both to human lives and property, that fireworks and related explosives have caused before shooting them off in 2021.

The commission reported 12 deaths from fireworks-related incidents in 2019, and the agency’s most recent report said the actual number is likely more. That’s above the 7.9 fireworks deaths per year the country averaged from 2004-2019, the commission said.

In Montgomery County, three adults suffered injuries from fireworks-related incidents during New Years 2018 celebrations, and authorities responded to a house fire that started from discarded fireworks on the same night. A Harris County man suffered severe injuries from a fireworks accident during a New Years 2021 celebration.

Among the at least 12 fireworks-related deaths reported nationally in 2019 was a 15-year-old boy who police reports said was lighting a homemade firework device on the 4th of July when it detonated, according to the commission. The same day, a 48-year-old man died after getting hit in the chest by a damaged artillery shell firework he was holding close to his chest.

Firework fatalities from the year before include a 16-year-old Florida boy who picked up a lit mortar tube just before it exploded, and a 49-year-old Texas man who launched artillery shells from a device on his shoulder, the commission said.

Men are injured, and die, from fireworks about twice as often as women, data from the commission shows.

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Sparklers caused about 900 of the around 7,300 fireworks injuries reported between June 21 and July 21, 2019, alone, according to the commission’s data, with firecrackers causing the next highest number of wounds with around 800.

In all of 2019, about 10,000 fireworks injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms across the country, according to the commission.

Fireworks-related injuries can cause permanent damage, as is the case with Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul. The two-time Super Bowl champion has permanent damage in his right hand after blowing off part of his fingers while lighting off a firework on the 4th of July in 2015.

Accidents caused by lighting fireworks can be costly, too. The National Fire Protection Agency reported $105 million in direct property damage in 2018, a year in which about 19,500 fires started by fireworks were reported to local fire departments across the country.

The Montgomery County Fire Marshal recommends that residents take in a public fireworks display instead of shooting off their own consumer fireworks. Lighting fireworks is illegal within the most city limits, including Conroe, Montgomery, Magnolia, Willis and Shenandoah as well as the borders of The Woodlands Township. Fireworks are legal in unincorporated areas of Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Fire Marshal has issued these tips to prevent fireworks-related tragedies:

Before you shoot:

• Do not let children buy fireworks without adult supervision.
• Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers.
• Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Find a smooth, flat surface, away from the house or other buildings, dry leaves or grass.
• Be sure to have water handy in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Always have adult supervision.

When you're ready to shoot:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Always read and follow label directions, warnings, and instructions.
• Be considerate of your neighbors.
• Only ignite fireworks outdoors, and away from houses and other buildings.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Light only one firework at a time.
• Never try to re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never give fireworks to small children, even sparklers cause serious burns.
• Never throw fireworks at another person, vehicle, or animal.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
• Dispose of spent fireworks properly.

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