Escambia County Fire Rescue Urges Firework Safety this New Year's Eve

As Escambia County prepares for the festivities of New Year's Eve, Escambia County Fire Rescue would like to encourage residents who are choosing to purchase and display their own fireworks to use extra precautions and utilize safety measures during the holiday.

On April 8, 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 140, which effectively permitted the use of fireworks in the State of Florida during designated holidays, including New Year's Eve. 

As numerous Floridians choose to purchase their own fireworks, the number of residential structure fires have increased during holidays that are often celebrated with fireworks. 

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, an estimated 19,500 fires started by fireworks were reported to local fire departments in the United States in 2018. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 9,100 consumer fireworks-related injuries were seen in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2018.

Between 2017 and 2021, Escambia County experienced six residential structure fires caused by fireworks. Four of those fires were caused by fireworks that were improperly disposed after their use. 

"Each year, there are hundreds of serious injuries caused by the misuse of fireworks," said Escambia County Fire and Life Specialist Ray Melton. "Fireworks should be used under adult supervision, and most fireworks should never be held in your hand. Sparklers reach a temperature of 2,000 degrees, and can cause serious injuries and cause fires. You should have a bucket of water to place used fireworks to make sure they are out. Some fireworks can smolder, which can cause fires in trash cans and homes."

Escambia County Public Safety is responsible for keeping citizens safe from emergencies and both man-made and natural disasters. Its divisions include Emergency Communications, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Rescue and Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. For the latest information on emergency management services in Escambia County, residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts on myescambia.com.

Follow Escambia County Public Safety on Facebook and Twitter:
Facebook: @ECPublicSafety
Twitter: @ECPublicSafety