Firework Safety Tips for the Rest of the Summer

In my neighborhood, firework safety is at the forefront of everyone’s minds this summer, especially since the skies are currently filled with smoke from western wildfires. But even if you don’t live in a fire-risk area, fireworks still pose serious threats, from house fires to injuries. In fact, in 2025, more than 13,000 people were admitted into emergency rooms during the 4th of July holiday alone.

“Most fireworks injuries are burns to the hands and face,” says attorney Parham Nikfarjam. “The worst I’ve seen were to the eyes and the fingers. You don’t get those back.”

Get the firework bug this Independence Day and want to explore the wider world of fireworks? Ahead, we gathered the top tips from safety experts about how to keep your family and neighborhood safe.

Are fireworks more dangerous in the heat?

Yes. Hot weather dries out landscapes and structures, allowing sparks to easily ignite everything from dry grasses and mulch to decks and roofs. This is especially critical in the western part of the country, where heat, drought and low humidity often combine for ideal wildfire conditions.

Firework injuries also ramp up in the summer, especially around Independence Day. “Everything becomes more dangerous,” says Nikfarjam. “Dry grass, bare feet, heat that makes you drink a few too many beers, then a firework held too long or pointed the wrong way. That’s how fireworks injuries happen.”

Leave it to the Pros

We don’t want to be the fun police, but this one comes first because every expert we talked to strongly recommended skipping home fireworks, and instead just attending an official fireworks display.

“The best night of the summer and the worst night of someone’s life can happen in the same backyard,” says Nikfarjam. “That’s why the safest bet is the public fireworks show.”

Respect Your Neighbors

Another strong argument against home fireworks is how unneighborly they are. Not only can they catch someone else’s house on fire, but loud noises cause serious stress to pets, infants and especially those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Fireworks also pose serious threats to wildlife, including birds, which often abandon their fledglings in the nest, get disoriented and crash into buildings. The smoke from pyrotechnics is also harmful to wildlife and people, particularly those with lung conditions.

If you do choose to set off fireworks at home, let your neighbors know in advance, so they can prepare for the disruption and safety hazards.

Use Common Sense

Two biggies for firework safety are checking to make sure they’re legal in your area and not drinking alcohol or using other substances and medications that may impair your judgement. Also, never set off fireworks during dry or windy conditions.

“Fireworks are safest when they’re planned, not treated as a last-minute activity,” says construction blogger Thomas Oldham.

Never Let Kids Light Fireworks

This is the No. 1 rule, according to emergency services expert Daniel Shoffner — and it includes sparklers, which injured around 1,300 people in 2025.

“Sparklers may seem harmless, but they burn at temperatures that can reach nearly 2,000 degrees,” says a spokesperson from AmeriPro EMS. “They can cause serious burns, especially to young children. Glow sticks are a much safer alternative for little ones.”

Prep and Wet Your Home

Fireworks cause thousands of structure and vehicle fires each year, and your roof bears the brunt of that risk, especially since falling debris can travel 50 feet from the launch sit (and much farther on a windy day).

Whether it’s you or your neighbors lighting fireworks, beforehand clean dry leaves and other debris from your gutters and roof valleys, and clear all flammable materials within a five-foot perimeter of your home. For extra protection, wet your roof, deck, yard and the area around the launch zone.

Plan a Landing Zone

Use fireworks in a large, open area, away from anything flammable or meltable, including landscaping, dry grasses, structures, vehicles, patio furniture and cushions, plastic storage containers, lawn equipment, firewood and poly tarps.

“People estimate what they think is a safe distance, but they often get it wrong,” says injury prevention expert Steven Menotti. “Consumer fireworks often fly farther and higher than the packaging indicates, and it’s this difference between expectation and reality that causes property damage.”

Keep Water on Hand

Set up a garden hose or buckets of water within easy reach, in case something goes wrong. Fire extinguishers are also a good idea. “Most people don’t prepare a water source before they start, but rather plan to get one if something goes wrong,” says Menotti. “But reaction time after an ignition mishap needs to happen in seconds, not minutes.”

Prepare Your Pets

Studies show that half of all dogs are frightened by fireworks, and that stress causes some to run away. To prevent that, leave pets indoors, with windows closed. If you must go out, double-check that their leash is secure and that their ID tag and microchip contact info are up-to-date.

“Once the fireworks start, now is the time get the pet in their safe space, to bring out any feeding enrichment you’ve prepared, to put on a calming vest or other tools if you have them and to help muffle the booms by playing something like brown noise,” says animal behavior expert Dr. Annie Valuska.

Valuska also recommends synthetic pheromone sprays like Adaptil and Feliway, which can have a calming effect on some dogs and cats.

Light Fireworks With Caution

Once it’s time to actually light fireworks, wear eye protection, keep spectators (and yourself) at a safe distance and remember that fuses often burn at unpredictable rates.

“The most frequent injuries I hear about in safety circles are burns and hand injuries, and they have one thing in common,” says Menotti, “the firework handler was too close to the firework or held onto it for too long after it was lit.”

Also, never:

• Keep fireworks in your pocket,
• point or throw them at another person.
• hold them in your hands,
• light more than one at once, or
• try to relight a firework that doesn’t go off. Instead, wait at least 20 minutes before approaching it, then soak it in water for several hours before discarding.

Promptly Clean Up the Scene

Once you’re done with the fun, thoroughly inspect the surrounding area with a flashlight to make sure nothing is smoldering, including roofs, landscaping and outdoor structures. Also, clean up all debris, as it can be hazardous to kids, wildlife and the environment.

“Small precautions make a huge difference in protecting people, property and the community,” says Oldham.

About the Experts

• Steven Menotti is a hazard, injury prevention and fire risk expert, and CEO of Menotti Enterprise, a certified construction safety firm serving the NYC metro area. Website:
• Parham Nikfarjam is a senior trial attorney at J&Y Law, where he works with fireworks injuries. He was also named to the LA Times Consumer Attorney Visionaries list.
• Daniel Shoffner has more than 30 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services. He currently serves as Battalion Chief of EMS for the Burlington Fire Department in North Carolina, and as a faculty member at Purdue Global, an online university for working adults.
• Dr. Annie Valuska has more than 20 years of experience studying animal behavior and animal-human relationships, and is a principal scientist and certified applied animal behaviorist at Purina.
• Thomas Oldham is company director at UK Construction Blog, where he works alongside builders, fire safety professionals and property experts.
• AmeriPro EMS crews respond to emergencies every day, and around the Fourth of July often see injuries that could have been prevented with a few simple safety precautions.

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