Independence Day has the most reported fires than any other day in the U.S., and Broward County Sheriff's Office wants South Floridians to be careful and not get hurt.
On July 4, the State Fire Marshal's Office will be helping police departments with confiscating illegal fireworks and overseeing complaints, the sheriff's office said. Authorities will also conduct inspections of roadside fireworks stands.
Although most fireworks are illegal in Florida, both the legal and illegal ones can result in injury, fires and sometimes death, the sheriff's office said. Illegal fireworks include those that fly or explode.
Legal fireworks, like sparklers, can be dangerous when not used properly, authorities said. Sparklers can heat up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that can cause third degrees burns or permanent disfigurement, BSO said.
“If you want to see fireworks, it’s best left to the professionals,” sheriff's office Fire Chief Tony Stravino said.
In 2011, there were 9,600 fireworks-related injuries in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Administration. Of those, about 2,500 were injuries involving children under the age of 15.
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“The last thing we want to see is a child burned by a sparkler, someone lose fingers, or worse, from fireworks,” Stravino said.
Besides fireworks, authorities warn about celebratory gunfire because firing a gun in the air is both illegal and dangerous.
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