While the drought conditions that plagued Missouri for over a year have eased, the Division of Fire Safety is urging Missourians to continue to exercise extreme caution if they choose to use consumer fireworks as part of July 4 celebrations. Across the nation, July 4 is not only the busiest day of the year for fireworks, it’s the busiest day of the year for fires.

About 40 percent of Independence Day structure fires are the result of fireworks, according to the National Fire Protection Association. About 250 people go to emergency rooms each day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around July 4. Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires a year.

Eleven people died as the result of fireworks in 2022, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 10,200 people were treated for injuries in hospital emergency rooms.

Missourians who choose to use consumer fireworks should follow these safety tips:

-Confirm fireworks are legal where you live; only purchase fireworks from licensed retailers.
-Only use fireworks in a large open space that has been cleared of flammable materials.
-Always keep young children away from fireworks; if teens are permitted to handle fireworks, they should be closely supervised by an adult; always wear eye protection.
-Make sure to have a garden hose or a bucket of water nearby in case of a fire.
-Only light fireworks one at a time; never try to re-light fireworks that have malfunctioned.
-Dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water and leaving them in a trash can.
-Never shoot fireworks off from a glass jar or container.
-Never use fireworks while consuming alcohol.
-Never store fireworks from season to season.

Fireworks sales at licensed seasonal retailers are legal in Missouri from June 20 to July 10. Through June 16, the Division of Fire Safety had issued 1,133 permits to seasonal fireworks retailers.