Public officials urge July Fourth revelers to use legal fireworks responsibly
Although some Las Vegans will shoot off fireworks this Independence Day, government and fire officials are advising caution. The Clark County Commission on Monday urged the community to “leave the big shows to the pros.”
This year, Clark County’s Fire Department paired with commissioners and other agencies to inform the community about Independence Day fireworks safety at a press conference at the Clark County Government Center.
From Tuesday until Monday, “safe and sane” fireworks, which keep to a small, circular area on the ground and don’t explode in the air, are legal for use in Clark County and legal for authorized vendors to sell. Anything that shoots into the air or makes a big explosion is not legal; these include firecrackers, Roman candles and skyrockets.
No fireworks at all are permitted at Red Rock, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Lake Mead and Tule Springs.
Fireworks-related calls keep police busy. In 2015, in a 28-hour period starting at midnight July 4, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had 836 fireworks-related service calls of 6,962 calls overall (12 percent). The fireworks-related calls included complaints about noise and reports of injuries, but the police offered no further specifics.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Andrew Walsh said, “What we rely on is people really using their heads, using the legal fireworks. We want everybody to go out and have fun, but we do not want anybody to get hurt.”
The weeks before and after Independence Day in previous years, there have been multiple concerns about noise, and litter. This year, there is also the concern about fireworks possibly sparking a wildfire, Clark County commissioners said at the conference.
The irresponsible use of explosives can be dangerous and possibly deadly, officials said.
“You see and hear the stories of people losing limbs — permanent long-term disfiguring injuries,” Walsh said. “These accidents change lives, especially when it happens to children.”
Cassell has written a letter to vendors in Pahrump, Amargosa Valley and Moapa band of Paiutes calling for their assistance in educating adults about handling fireworks with care.
Contact Tatiana Villamil at lvillamil@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264. Find @7atianaV on Twitter.
