With temperatures rapidly rising and July 4 celebrations around the corner, officials laid out a series of steps residents can take to ensure they stay safe from fires this summer — including leaving fireworks to the professionals.
In Massachusetts, fires are “somewhat seasonal,” with fires in the winter having different causes than those in the summer, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for the state fire marshal’s office. For the summer season, Wark pointed to four risk factors in particular — smoking, grilling, air conditioning, and fireworks.
According to Wark, the majority of fatal fires come from the “improper disposal of smoking materials.” Smoking on porches, balconies, and in backyards pose a unique risk, Wark explained, as people are likely to grind out cigarettes on railings or toss them on the ground. If a fire starts on mulch on the side of a building, it “can get a foothold on the building before residents realize.”
These types of fires are especially dangerous in densely-built neighborhoods as they can spread from building to building much more quickly. Additionally, fires started outside the building are less likely to be caught by smoke alarms.
To mitigate the risk of cigarette-caused fires, Wark recommends people “use a sturdy ashtray with water or sand” and put cigarettes out “all the way, all the time.” People with children in the house should make sure to keep smoking materials out of the reach of kids.
Wark said fireworks pose a major fire risk during late June and early July ahead of the July 4 holiday, despite the explosives being illegal in Massachusetts. Individuals purchase fireworks in neighboring states and bring them back to Massachusetts, he said.
Residents should “leave fireworks to the professionals,” because when they don’t “people are injured and property is destroyed,” Wark said. The state saw a “large number” of firework-related fires in 2020. While the number has been “down” since 2021, they still pose a substantial risk.
Over the weekend of June 24 to June 26, State Police troopers from the Division of Investigative Services and Firearms and Explosives Investigation Unit seized 1,580 illegal fireworks totaling over $28,000 from across the state.
In the past nine years, 900 fires related to illegal fireworks were reported, State Police said.
“In addition to the 43 fire service injuries and $2.1 million in damages attributed to these fires, state medical facilities reported 31 severe burn injuries extending to 5 percent or more of the victims’ bodies,” State Police said.
One of the other risks posed by the summer season is home grilling, Wark said. Any grills or other open flame cooking apparatuses are at least ten feet away from any structures. Residents should move grills out from any overhangs and never grill on a balcony.
Wark emphasized the importance of plugging any air conditioning units and other heavy appliances directly into the wall, as opposed to into power strips and extension cords, which could spark electrical fires.
For more information on fire safety and places you can watch fireworks legally, visit mass.gov/dfs.
Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
