LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
The Fourth of July is right around the corner and the temptation to light off fireworks is strong. However, Clark County wants to remind people only "safe and sane" fireworks are legal to set off and can only be purchased from June 29 through July 4.
Safe and sane fireworks keep to a small, circular area on the ground and don't explode in the air. Illegal fireworks include firecrackers, Roman candles and sky rockets - any item made of highly combustible materials.
"We want everyone to have a fun and safe Fourth of July, but it's important to remember that fireworks can start fires and cause injuries," said Clark County Fire Chief Bertral Washington. "Any fireworks that shoot into the air are illegal for use in Clark County unless it's part of a permitted fireworks show."
The Clark County Fire Department has permitted 170 booths operated by nonprofits to sell safe and sane fireworks.
In addition, the department has received eight requests from applicants planning to host fireworks shows over the Fourth of July holiday. They are:
- Red Rock Resort
- Las Vegas Country Club
- Red Rock Country Club
- Caesars Palace
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Las Vegas Hotel
- Clark County Fair Ground in Moapa Valley
- Primm Valley Resorts
Clark County Fire recommends the following when handling fireworks:
Preparation
- Have a pre-connected garden hose handy in case a fire breaks out.
- Maintain several five gallon buckets filled with water where you can place discharged fireworks.
- Use fireworks on flat, hard surfaces such as parking lots, cul-de-sacs, etc. away from buildings, vehicles, dry brush, etc.
- View our fireworks safety tips posted on the Clark County Fire Department's website.
Using
- Use only "safe and sane" fireworks and only in the way they were designed.
- Coordinate lighting the items so that everyone in the group anticipates when they will be set off and are not surprised.
- Do not let children ignite fireworks.
- Keep close supervision on children and pets; maintaining a distance away from the fireworks that are being ignited minimizes the possibility of injury.
- Keep fireworks out of young children's hands. Sparklers have been a popular item to give young children in the past, but they can get as hot as 2,000 degrees and that's enough to cause clothes to catch fire or cause bad skin burns when used.
- Exercise caution when approaching an item that has failed to light; keep everyone away from it for several minutes. (Sometimes a fuse malfunctions enough to slow the ignition time down, but it ignites seconds later.)
- If fireworks malfunction or catch on fire, make sure someone with a water supply can get to it and extinguish the firework.
- Before you begin lighting fireworks, discuss what to do if someone's clothes catch on fire: Stop, drop and roll. Any burns should be treated with cool water and gauze. If the burn blisters, seek medical help.
Afterwards
- Exercise caution and place the discharged fireworks into a bucket of water overnight to make certain they do not re-ignite.
- Check the area where fireworks were set off and conduct a wide sweep around the area (including roof tops) to make certain that no embers or other heated debris remain that could cause something to ignite later.
- For more information, call the Clark County Fire Prevention Bureau, (702) 455-7316.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
