Avoiding dangers on the 4th of July

Watching fireworks is the staple of any 4th of July celebration. The dangers associated with those traditions, however, can have grave consequences. Follow the law and stick to safety guidelines to keep you and your family safe. 

All fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles, and have been since 1942. This includes fireworks that are “safe and sane”. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)’s blog, having fireworks in your possession can result in a misdemeanor, along with a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail. 

Why so many restrictions regarding fireworks? Because they’re dangerous and can cause major injuries and fires. 

LAFD has compiled a few statistics, indicating the consequences of using firecrackers at home:

• Almost half of all people injured are children under the age of 15.
• According to the United States eye registry, more bystanders are injured by fireworks than by the people who set them off.
• Sparklers can heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (that is hot enough to melt gold).
• The highest numbers of injuries are firecrackers (26%), rockets (21%) and sparklers (11%). 

If you see a fire, call 911. And if you see a firecracker or a “dud” lying on the ground, don’t touch it and advise others to do the same.

So, let’s leave it to the professionals. There are several approved fireworks shows happening in Los Angeles this 4th of July. Here is a list of approved shows in Los Angeles County open to the public:

Lake View Terrace

Hansen Dam

11770 Foothill Blvd.

Lake View Terrace 91342

Los Angeles

Dodger Stadium

1000 Elysian Park

Los Angeles 90012

Hollywood Bowl

2301 North Highland Ave

Los Angeles 90068

Los Angeles Coliseum

3939 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles 90037

Warner Ranch Park

21820 Califa

St Los Angeles 91367

Baldwin Hills

Crenshaw Plaza

3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr, Suite 243

Los Angeles 90008

Pacific Palisades

Palisades High School

15777 Bowdoin

Pacific Palisades 90272

San Fernando

City of San Fernando

208 Park Avenue

San Fernando 91340

San Pedro

Cabrillo Beach

3800 Stephen M. White Dr.

San Pedro 90731

Additional safety information can be found at safe4thjuly.org.

For more information on general fire safety, visit readyla.org.

(Photo Credit: bayasaa/ Flickr Creative Commons)