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Title:
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Fireworks Safety and Impacts
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Title
Fireworks Safety and Impacts
Description
This report provides the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee with information on Fireworks Safety.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The Phoenix Fire Code prohibits the sale and use of consumer fireworks in the City of Phoenix. Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) supersedes this requirement during specific dates and allows for the sale and use of fireworks.
Per ARS, the sale of permissible consumer fireworks is allowed:
April 25th through May 6th
May 20th through July 6th
December 10th through January 3rd
Two days before the first day of Diwali through the third day of Diwali each year
Per ARS, the use of permissible consumer fireworks is allowed:
May 4th through May 6th
June 24th through July 6th
December 26th through January 4th
The second and third days of Diwali of each year
As a result of 911 calls first going to the Police Department's Communications Bureau, an initial analysis shows the Police Department experiences an increased call volume during the dates of permissible use of consumer fireworks. Additionally, the Fire Department observed a noticeable increase in fire activity levels on July 4, 2023. In response to this increase, the Fire Investigations Task Force conducted a seven-year review of available data to determine if a correlation exists between fire activity levels and periods for which state law permits the sale and use of consumer fireworks. Key findings of the seven-year review are as follows:
In months when fireworks sales and use are permitted, fire activity levels increase when compared to months when they are prohibited.
The average fire call volume increased 161 percent from December 30 to New Year's (2024).
The typical range of fire calls in the City of Phoenix is 7-21 per day. The highest fire call volume is consistently on January 1 and July 4.
Before 2010, fireworks were illegal. On July 4, 2009, the Fire Department responded to 17 fire incidents in comparison to 176 fire incidents on July 4, 2023, a 935 percent increase.
The Fire Department has three principal community risk reduction strategies for our Fireworks Safety Programs. These are community risk education, fire prevention, and emergency response.
Our community risk education includes socializing what is permissible by the ARS and safety practices to the community. Key elements of this program include ongoing media safety events, social media outreach, and distribution of educational materials. A new bilingual educational brochure will be made available to our community and provided to permitted locations where fireworks are sold. In addition, the Fire Department works with the Police Department and the Arizona Burn Foundation on community risk education efforts.
ARS section 36-1606 regulates when permissible fireworks can be bought, sold, and used in Arizona. Local jurisdictions can inspect fireworks sales locations for compliance with the ARS and issue an operational permit. The Fire Prevention Section provides these inspection services in the City of Phoenix, which include the type of fireworks, quantities, location inside of stores, exiting, and other factors. If a fire inspector discovers illegal fireworks, they direct those fireworks to be removed from sale and sent back to the manufacturer or distributor.
The Fire Department is considering standing up supplemental fire companies to address anticipated high fire activity levels on July 4, 2024.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.