When It Comes to Fireworks, Don’t Do-It-Yourself

Many people are tempted to put on their own home fireworks shows to celebrate the Fourth of July. But they do so at the risk of being hurt or arrested, according to Connecticut State Police spokesperson Lieutenant Paul J. Vance. “People are mesmerized by fireworks,” he says, “but in Connecticut, the only thing legal is sparklers.” And you have to be at least 16 years of age to legally handle those.

Sparklers may seem like a harmless amusement for children, but Meriden Fire Marshal Steve Trella says that the sparks that give them their name can reach 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. “They burn very hot. You can get a serious burn,” he cautions.             

If you do decide to use sparklers this Independence Day, be sure to buy them from a reputable place, “not out of the trunk of someone’s car,” Trella says. That way you’ll know that they don’t have unsanctioned explosives in them. Trella also says that if you must use sparklers, be sure to read the directions first.

When it comes to firecrackers, Roman candles and any other type of fireworks, stay away from them altogether, he urges. If they cause a fire or explosion resulting in damage or destruction, the person who set them off could be charged with arson, a class C felony.

Meriden Police Sergeant Leonard Camponigro agrees. “Every year we have someone who gets injured using illegal fireworks,” he says. “We don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

Last year, three people died because of fireworks and an estimated 8,500 required emergency room treatment for fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. So if you want a fireworks show, Trella advises, “you’d be better off watching the professionals do it.”