Summit County Fire Departments Urge Fireworks Abstinence

Monday, June 30, 2008 - Summit County, CO

The 4th of July brings to mind celebrating with family and friends, barbeques, parades, and of course, fireworks. Summit County fire departments are asking people to leave the firework displays to the professionals.

"With the warm and drying conditions we are experiencing in Summit County, firefighters are on heightened alert this week," said Lake Dillon Fire District Deputy Chief Jeff Berino. "We are urging folks to abstain from lighting fireworks and come enjoy the scheduled shows," he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10,000 people in the United States are injured by fireworks each year; one out of every three people injured are children under 15. Most injuries occur to the eyes, head, face and ear and more than half of these are burns.

In Colorado, legal fireworks are limited to those that DO NOT leave the ground or explode. Examples of legal fireworks include: fountains, sparklers and snakes. They are currently being sold at select local grocery and retail stores.

Some jurisdictions, including the Town of Blue River, as well as the U.S. Forest Service Lands and the Bureau of Land Management, do not allow any fireworks, legal or not.

"The threat to our community and firefighters increases during holiday seasons," said Red, White & Blue Fire Marshal Jay Nelson. "We try to minimize that threat through education and cooperation with local law enforcement," he said.

Numerous fireworks displays throughout Summit County will allow folks to enjoy shows without having one of their own. July 4th fireworks shows will be held at 9:30 p.m. in three locations: over Lake Dillon, in the Town of Breckenridge and over Keystone Lake. Copper Mountain will hold their firework show on July 5th at 9:55 p.m. over West Lake.

People looking to dispose of legal and/or illegal fireworks can call Fire Marshal Jay Nelson at: 970.453.2474

---

Press Contact:
Capt. Kim Scott, PIO
cell: 970.485.4374
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

---

« Back