Firefighters warn of the dangers of illegal fireworks

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KTVU) - With Independence Day right around the corner, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is reminding the public of the dangers posed by illegal fireworks, including ones considered safe and sane.

KTVU spent the day with firefighters in Antioch as part of their annual fire training. Captain George Laing said the potential for fires increases leading up to the Fourth of July.

“Fireworks literally create hundreds of fires in the weeks before and following the Fourth of July, but on the Fourth of July it’s the worst,” Laing said.

As part of a demonstration, firefighters lit a single sparkler and set fire to dry weeds to show how fast flames move in windy conditions. In a matter of roughly 10 seconds, the fire had quickly spread. Laing said sparklers burn between 1200 and 2000 degrees.

“When people have hand held sparklers and they give them to their children thinking that’s the safest and sanest way of celebrating the Fourth of July with a patriotic sense of America, we really want people to think again about the hazards they pose,” he said.

For a week now, Contra Costa County Firefighters and neighboring agencies have been training in Antioch. Crews are using drip torches to set a controlled fire. They immediately extinguish the fire using a mobile attack and repeat the process. Their fire training also plays a role in weed abatement. As a reminder, homeowners are encouraged to create defensible space around their properties as the fire season gathers speed. 

“Do not buy, bring into Contra Costa County, or use illegal fireworks,” Laing added. 

All fireworks, including safe and sane, are illegal in Contra Costa County.