Fireworks: What you need to know

With the Fourth of July approaching, area fire and public safety officials are encouraging lake residents and visitors to become familiar with and abide by the legal and safety guidelines concerning celebrations to keep accidents and arrests from marring the holiday.

Franklin County Fire Marshall Bennie Russell, noting that many consumer-purchasable fireworks are not legal in Virginia and that about one-third of all fireworks injuries are caused by illegal fireworks, provided the following guidelines:

Legal for non-professional use in Virginia are fireworks classified as sparklers, fountains and novelty items that do not have a report (explosion) and are not intended to leave the ground and fly through the air.

Not legal for non-professional use in Virginia are fireworks that explode and/or leave the ground, such as firecrackers, Roman candles, rockets (including bottle rockets) and mortars.

For exhibitions of fireworks at festivals and other public or private events, an advance permit from the Franklin County Fire Marshal's office is required. The fireworks must be presented by a trained operator. A representative from the Fire Marshal's office may inspect the pyrotechnics and viewing area to ensure safety.

Violation of fireworks laws is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to six months, depending upon the violation. Fireworks laws cover transport, display, storage, sale, possession and use of fireworks.

Laws and recommendations in the other lake-bordering counties of Bedford and Pittsylvania are essentially the same, according to Russell.

Citizens who want fireworks to be part of their celebration are encouraged to attend a public fireworks display presented by professionally trained pyrotechnic personnel.

Most notable in the lake area is the exhibition scheduled to conclude the July Fourth celebration at Parkway Marina benefiting Saunders Volunteer Fire Co.

Al Busch of Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue said he is certain there have been injuries and fires resulting from careless handling of fireworks by inexperienced non-professionals in the past. But data on those incidents, he noted after investigation of Fire/Rescue records and a conversation with Bedford County Sherriff's Department dispatchers, is nonconclusive.

John Singer, 12-year veteran and former captain of Moneta Rescue Squad, agreed.

"We have every reason to believe fireworks use by amateurs is risky, but hard data is difficult to come by."

"People are worried about insurance coverage of injuries from illegal activities," Russell explained. "They rarely admit to fireworks as the cause of their injuries."

Russell said he believes Franklin County averages one structure fire a year attributable to fireworks. Two docks at the lake have been destroyed or damaged in the last couple of years.

A recent incident resulted in a dock being declared a total loss; nearby fireworks explosions are suspected.

Another fire was started when an errant rocket ignited fireworks stored in a dock house, he said.

Only minor injuries resulted, but witnesses reported considerable panic among assembled children and spectators during the conflagration.

"Too many people think they are fireworks experts because they lit off bottle rockets as a kid," said Russell, a licensed pyrotechnician who will work several shows in the region over the holidays.

"They get careless and they get hurt. Some of the illegal stuff we confiscate is extremely powerful. It has real potential to cause serious injury."

Ironically, Russell pointed out that nationwide statistics show more injuries from simple, "harmless" sparklers than from any other type of fireworks.

"It just goes to show even the legal varieties need to be handled with care," he said.

For information about the Fourth of July fireworks display at Parkway Marina or to make a donation to the Saunders Volunteer Fire Co., visit www.smlfireworks.org.

RECREATION