Firework Safety: Protect Wildlife this July 4

Keep friends, family and Mother Nature safe this year by practicing firework safety.

Fire safety is one of the most important lessons every outdoor enthusiast must learn. We’re nature lovers. Our top priority is always protecting the beautiful wilderness we love so much. Around the weekend of July 4, when Americans across the country are lighting off fireworks, firework safety becomes just as important as fire safety.

Firework safety is crucial for keeping ourselves safe, but we have to remember that the safety of our parks and recreation areas is up to us, too. Being aware of fire safety rules is great, but, on July 4 weekend, we have to consider the ecological footprint of our fireworks as well.

All it takes is one firecracker and the wind blowing in the wrong direction for our entire region to be devastated.

Keep Our Parks Safe

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and many other outdoor locations have sent out messages this year urging visitors to be cautious with their fireworks this July 4 weekend.

“Growing up in the Gorge, I have a lot of fond holiday memories here. The Columbia Gorge is an incredible place to celebrate over the July 4 weekend. But fireworks and the vibrant forests and grasslands of the Gorge just don’t mix,” said Emily Reed, Network Director of the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance.

“The Eagle Creek Trail fully reopened this summer after five years of recovery from a single firecracker set off in the woods. All it takes is one firecracker and the wind blowing in the wrong direction for our entire region to be devastated,” Reed added.

Travelers Have an Impact

Global temperatures are on the rise, and wildfires and droughts are ever-present across the United States. According to last year’s Annual Fire Report from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC), “Average temperatures during Fire Season 2021 were well above the 1895-2021 average for nearly the entire western United States.”

Additonally, “In many areas of the western United States temperatures were the warmest ever recorded for the three-month period June, July, and August.” (NWCC)

These record high temperatures, just as Reed explained, create ideal conditions for the spread of wildfires. Practicing fire and firework safety this summer will make all the difference.

“Overall, humans expand the spatial and temporal “fire niche” by introducing ignitions into landscapes when fuels are sufficiently dry enough to ignite and carry fire, but when lightning is rare.” The National Academy of Sciences makes it clear that “Human ignitions are therefore a critical force acting to expand how the fire niche is realized across United States ecoregions.” (PNAS)

Statistics about firework safety:

Fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018.

• This includes 1,900 structure fires and 500 vehicle fires
• As well as 17,100 outside and other fires

These fires caused:

• 5 deaths
• 46 civilian injuries
• $105 million in direct property damage.

Advice from the National Safety Council:

• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire.

Additional Fire Safety Resources:

For studies on wildfire causes:

science.org

For fire prevention resources:

smokeybear.com

beoutdoorsafe.org

For information about current active wildfires:

gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc

inciweb.nwcg.gov