Every year, before Independence Day, authorities and associations warn against improper and risky handling of private fireworks. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 11 people died and more than 10,000 were injured in fireworks last year. Three-quarters of all crashes occurred around July 4th. And more than a quarter of those injured were under the age of 15.
According to CPSC long-term statistics, an average of ten deaths occur in the United States each year. The number of injuries has consistently increased over the last 15 years, with statistical discrepancies both up and down.
explosive dummies
Just before Independence Day, the authority also dramatically demonstrates the consequences of careless handling of fireworks and firecrackers. The dummies show the fatal consequences that improper handling can have.
This year, for the first time in three years, the performance took place on the National Promenade between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Videos show how the heads and limbs of the mannequins are severed by the explosions. Special warnings are given against self-made explosive devices.
The boom came with the pandemic
Warnings that the fireworks industry is exploding are no surprise: In 2002, there was a record $2.3 billion in sales to individuals, compared to just $400 million in commercial sales, reports the magazine. online Quartz, citing the industry association. New records are expected this year.
Fireworks sales have more than tripled since 2012, when they were just $645 million. A boom during the pandemic is primarily responsible for the increase. When large public fireworks were canceled in 2020, private companies relied on their own pyrotechnics: sales increased by 90% in 2020 compared to 2019. And the trend continues today.
12,000 fires per year
Videos are also appearing repeatedly in the media and on social media, showing that pyrotechnics can be quite dangerous. There was recently a movie circulated in which a small front yard party ended in a fiery inferno after a firework or two had gone off.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also warns of the dangers of fireworks every year: Fireworks are estimated to have started about 12,000 fires in 2021, including about 2,000 building fires, 316 vehicle fires and almost 10,000 outdoor fires. Those fires caused 29 civilian injuries and $59 million in property damage, according to the FFPA.
Some cities have drone shows
And given the widespread drought, officials in some states, particularly in the western US, are warning against private fireworks. Some cities are already looking for alternatives. Salt Lake City, capital of Utah, is replacing fireworks with a drone show. The city not only grapples with the risk of fire, but also with aspects of sustainability and health. Emissions from fireworks are considered hazardous to health.
AP/Bebeto Matthews Fireworks like this one in New York are among Independence Day highlights
According to US media reports, drone shows can also be seen in several Colorado cities this year, such as Boulder, Lakewood and Castle Rock, as well as Lake Tahoe in the California border area.
Wildfires in Canada were a wake-up call for the US
In Oregon, fire departments prepare for turbulent days after a few weeks of drought, as is the case in Texas. In California, winter and spring have been wet, but the first heat wave is approaching. In Texas, that is ending with light rain, but after temperatures of up to 50 degrees in recent days, the risk of fire in the parched vegetation is high.
Just a few weeks ago, millions of US citizens were informed about the consequences of wildfires: smoke from several severe wildfires in Canada engulfed parts of the US and caused the worst air quality in decades, including in the metropolis of New York .