Municipal Affairs
December 23, 2015
Public Advisory: The 12 Days of Fire Safety - Day 11
Fireworks are a common sight during the holiday season, especially on New Year's Eve. While certainly entertaining, fireworks are not toys. These explosive devices must be used correctly in order to minimize the risk of fire.
If your family intends to light fireworks during the holiday season, take the following precautions to help ensure a safe and enjoyable show:
- Only use fireworks outdoors in a clear, open area where their use is not prohibited;
- Monitor wind strength and direction to ensure fireworks do not impact buildings, vehicles, overhead obstructions, or dry brush/grass;
- Respect your neighbour's property and be aware of the impact fireworks can have on family pets. Advise neighbours with pets that you intend to use fireworks so that they can ensure their pets are secure at home with windows and curtains closed;
- Ensure all spectators, especially children, are at least 20 metres away from the fireworks;
- Carefully read the instructions for each individual firework ahead of time;
- Never allow children to handle, play with, or light fireworks under any circumstances; even sparklers burn at a high enough temperature to ignite clothing or burn flesh and the sparks can injure the eyes;
- Wear eye protection and non-flammable clothing when lighting fireworks;
- When setting off fireworks, ensure any not immediately being fired are stored a safe distance away and covered. This prevents a spark from setting them off prematurely or all at once;
- Always light ground-based fireworks from a sturdy, level surface. Grass is not suitable;
- Always bury aerial fireworks to half their length either in the ground or in a large bucket filled with soil or sand;
- Always have water ready if you are using fireworks;
- Wait 30 minutes before attempting to pick up misfired fireworks, never attempt to re-light them, and soak them in water with used fireworks; and
- Dispose of soaked fireworks in an outdoor, fire-resistant garbage can away from buildings and flammable materials.
All residents of the province are invited to visit @FES_GovNL 
on Twitter during the 12 Days of Fire Safety to complete our fire safety quiz for the chance to win an emergency preparedness kit.
For more information about fire safety and emergency preparedness, visit the FES-NL website: www.gov.nl.ca/fes/index.html
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Media contact:
| Ryan Crocker
Media Relations Manager Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857, 709-690-1810 ryancrocker@gov.nl.ca |
2015 12 23 2:35 p.m.