Sioux Falls Fire Rescue urges citizens to leave fireworks to the professionals. Each year SFFR responds to fires caused by fireworks.

Nationally, more than $36 million in property is damaged each year due to fireworks. With the upcoming Independence Day holiday and accompanying June 27 through July 5 fireworks sales, SFFR would like to remind everyone that the use of fireworks within Sioux Falls city limits is illegal.

Each year across the United States, fireworks-related incidents are responsible for multiple injuries, fires, and significant property loss. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue encourages you to be safe by taking in a professional fireworks display!

Many of us will travel out of town for gatherings, which most often will include fireworks. With that in mind there are things we can do to help keep our holiday safe. Below are some recommendations:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. 
• Use only fireworks purchased from a licensed retailer; homemade or altered manufactured fireworks are not only dangerous but also illegal. 
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions. 
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks. 
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials. 
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned (“duds”). 
• Have an extinguishing means (garden hose, water buckets, sand, fire extinguisher) readily available for use should a fire occur. 
• If a burn to the skin does occur remember, cool the burn with lots of cool water and seek medical attention.

Another sad fact is a large number of fireworks burn injuries involve children. These are usually burns to the hands and eyes causing vision impairment as well as disfiguring scars. “Sparklers are the biggest danger to children,” says Jim Sideras, SFFR Division Chief. A tip temperature at the end of the sparkler reaches 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and can easily cause severe burns. Sideras cautions that, “Kids and fireworks are a dangerous combination.”

Quick Facts

Emergency departments treated an average of 9,600 people each year for firework-related injuries in the United States, and 8 people will die from their injuries during the month around Independence Day: 

• 40 percent of these injuries occurred among children ages 14 years and younger. 
• Males sustained about 76 percent of all injuries. 
• Hands (33 percent), eyes (21 percent), and the head, face, and ears (21 percent) were the parts of the body most frequently injured. 
• More than half of the injuries involved burns (62 percent). 
• Injuries were most commonly associated with firecrackers (17 percent), sparklers (17 percent), and rockets (14 percent).

In order to prevent injuries and fires, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue reminds citizens that discharging of fireworks is illegal in the city limits.