Fire Officials: 'Leave the Fireworks to the Professionals'

By BROOKLYN LOWERY (Patch Staff)

The state fire marshal’s office is reminding residents to ”Leave the fireworks to the professionals” this Fourth of July.

“Only licensed professionals are allowed to use fireworks in Massachusetts at displays supervised by local fire departments for safety,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. “There is no such thing as a safe or sane firework, and even the State Police Bomb Squad handles illegal Class C fireworks as if they were improvised explosive devices.”

Each year in Massachusetts, people are injured in illegal fireworks accidents. According to a statement from the fire marshal’s office, 60 percent of fireworks victims are under the age of 25, and 14 percent are under the age of five.

>>> Check out this list of fireworks displays throughout the state

Last year, the statement continues, an 8-year-old girl in Massachusetts sat on a sparkler that ignited her dress and led to burns on 7 percent of her body. Also last year, firefighters battled brush fires in Norton and Oxford that started as a result of illegal fireworks.

“The fourth of July holiday is a busy time for firefighters making sure the professional displays are conducted properly and are safe for the public; we’re busy responding to all types of fires and medical emergencies,” said Wellesley Fire Chief Rick DeLorie, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts. “In fact, July 4 is the busiest day for fires after Thanksgiving and Christmas.”