Fireworks Safety

Regarding Fireworks in Gilbert Neighborhoods

Fireworks may be used during private celebrations from New Year's Eve through January 1.

Please know the difference of each kind of firework and the laws associated with them.

  1. Display Fireworks - ILLEGAL
    Those that shoot into the air and may detonate are NOT legal for private use. Please see them at public displays or use with special permits. Fireworks made from a high amount of black power are not allowed: Black Cats, Bottle Rockets, Firecrackers, M-80s, and Roman Candles.
  2. Consumer Fireworks - ALLOWED BY STATE LAW
    Those labeled with "1.4 G Fireworks" or "Consumer Fireworks" and do not explode or go into the air, are allowed to be used on an individual's private property only. They are legal for people age 16 and older to purchase.
  3. Novelty Fireworks - ALLOWED BY STATE LAW
    Fireworks labeled as "Novelty Fireworks" are not regulated and may be sold and used for personal use: Ground-based Fountains, Party Poppers, Pinwheels, Small Sparklers, Smoke bombs, Snakes, Torches, Wheels, etc. Safety must be a top concern when using fireworks. Arizona's landscape is dry so caution is encouraged to prevent fires. Also, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates 8600 injuries were treated in US hospital emergency departments during 2010. There were three deaths.

For information visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website Links outside of the Town of Gilbert website and read their 2010 Fireworks Annual Report.

If you see fireworks being sold or used on public rights-of-way, in parks or shared common areas, call the Police Department's non-emergency phone number: 480-503-6500. Have a great holiday weekend!!!

Fireworks Ordinance and Safety

Use of "Consumer Fireworks" is prohibited within the Town of Gilbert except on the following specific Holiday days:

DECEMBER 31, JANUARY 1, JULY 3, JULY 4 and JULY 5

During this period the use is limited to private property with the owner's permission and prohibits use on all public property including all public parks and public right of way. Consumer Fireworks are Approved for Sale only to Persons 16 years of age and over in Arizona.
It is important to note that the law does not allow any fireworks that rise into the air and explode or detonate, which are still prohibited for safety reasons. Fireworks allowed under the new ordinance include ground and hand-held sparkling devices or sparklers, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, wheels and illuminating torches. Users are responsible for ensuring safety during use of the fireworks.

Consumer Fireworks Sales and Safety

The Town of Gilbert has passed Ordinance 2309 which limits the use of "Consumer Fireworks" from midnight to midnight during specific holiday celebration days only: DECEMBER 31, JANUARY 1, JULY 3, JULY 4 and JULY 5. During this period the use is limited to private property with the owner's permission and prohibits use on all public property including all public parks and public right of way. Federally deregulated Novelty items are allowed anytime.

Fireworks Statistics

Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that fireworks were involved in an estimated 8800 injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments during the 2009 calendar year.

Of the fireworks-related injuries sustained, 73 percent were to males and 27 percent were to females

Injuries to children were a major component of total fireworks-related injuries with children under 15 year old accounting for 39 percent of the estimated injuries. Children and young adults under 20 years old had 54 percent of the estimated injuries.

According to the NFPA, in 2008, fireworks caused an estimated 22,500 reported fires, including 1,400 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 20,600 outside and other fires.

These fires resulted in an estimated 1 civilian death, 40 civilian injuries and
$42 million dollars in direct property damage.

Read more fireworks statistics from the NFPA

Consumer Product Safety Commission Firework Safety Tips

sparklers
  • • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  • • Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
  • • Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
  • • Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don't realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
  • • Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
  • • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
  • • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
  • • Light one item at a time then move back quickly.
  • • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • • After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

For additional safety tips and statistics please visit the below websites:

Educational Firework Fun:

These games and activities are designed to help children learn about firework safety.

This explosive PBS NOVA site presents the colorful history of pyrotechnics and reveals the chemical secrets that put the bang in the rocket and the fizz in the Roman candle. The show introduces a gallery of firework creators and pyromaniacs, and reveals how hi-tech firing systems are transforming public displays into a dazzling, split-second science - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fireworks/ Links outside of the Town of Gilbert website