How Fire Works

Harnessing a volatile power such as fire is dangerous and difficult. Controlling a reaction such as an explosion requires skill and years of research. Creating a beautiful nighttime spectacle for hundreds and thousands of spectators involves months of planning and the cooperation of dozens of people. Fourth of July firework shows may only last half an hour, but without the proper amount of care and respect, one second of negligence or inattention when handling fireworks can easily become days’ worth of fire fighting.
Wildfires are not the only things a person should worry about while enjoying fireworks. A mishandled firecracker can do some serious damage to a person’s body. I remember standing in a train station in Rome the day after New Year’s listening to a news report that was thankfully in English. The announcer declared that a man had died from a firework that had hit him in the abdomen. Besides the one death, there were hundreds of other people that suffered various injuries due to the lack of respect for fireworks.
Firework safety can save lives and forests. Never aim a firework at another person, especially the newly legal “cake” fireworks that shoot small balls of fire into the air. Steer clear of lighting a firework anywhere near trees or bushes, no matter how green they are. Be sure to have a bucket of water or hose handy, just in case something does go awry. Even the most seemingly harmless fireworks – sparklers, for example – can burn a person’s skin within seconds of contact. Simply put, practice good Scouting: be prepared and make sure to use the buddy system when lighting fireworks.
There is one type of firework that I would like to bring attention to. It is most insidious and deplorable. Surprisingly, it is still legal in Utah. It has been a long time since I came in contact with this firework, but the very thought of it sends waves of complex emotions coursing through my whole body. I recall the first time I saw it in action: my friend bent down and lit something small and black on the sidewalk. Within mere moments, a fiery snake began slithering from the sidewalk, as if a portal to hell had suddenly opened up in the middle of my neighborhood. Good grief, it was disappointing!
Despite the fire snake’s mediocrity, it too poses a fire risk. Anything ranging from dully glowing to full on blazing should be considered equally dangerous. The best exercise you can engage in to practice firework safety is to ponder how much work has gone into creating the powerful, explosive, spectacular form of amusement that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own yard.
Also think about how fireworks are meant to simulate rockets during wartime. Rockets are designed to kill things. Respect fireworks. Though not as lethal as rockets, they can quickly change a cheerful moment into a tragic one. Happy Fourth of July and take care to avoid lighting yourself or anything else on fire!