Photo: Ford, Brad
Fireworks during the Fourth of July are a long-standing tradition in our nation, but more fires are reported on this day than on any other of the year in the United States. Fireworks cause nearly half of them.
Each year, we celebrate the Fourth of July with community parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks—events that make many happy memories. But sadly, Independence Day also includes tragic events, injuries, and fatalities resulting from fireworks use and fireworks can be both traumatizing and harmful to children, pets, and a growing number of war veterans who deserve our loyalty the most.
Completely aside from the danger of exploding fireworks to life and limb, there's a huge risk of fire injury, and property damage from their use and improper disposal. This danger was brought home to Portlanders early in the morning of July 4, 2021, when three individuals died and several more were injured in an apartment fire in NE Portland that was caused by fireworks.
In March of 2022, the Portland City Council permanently banned the sale and use of all consumer fireworks, including devices as simple as sparklers, with no exceptions for Independence Day. For more information on the City of Portland Firework Ban, please see the following link: ALL FIREWORKS USAGE HAS BEEN BANNED IN PORTLAND | Portland.gov
The Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Investigations Unit is sending a strong warning that they will be INVESTIGATING ALL FIRES THAT HAVE A CONNECTION TO FIREWORKS. If your firework use is found as a cause, you will be held responsible. Fireworks use that causes injury or extensive damage can result in heavy fines and/or jail time.
Please do not call 911 to report fireworks use! It is very important that our 911 system be kept for reporting only active fires and serious medical problems. Your cooperation with this will save lives!
In addition, we would like to remind you that:
- 911 is for emergencies only. Call 911 if something is on fire, someone needs immediate police help, or someone needs medical attention.
- Please do not call 911 to report fireworks use in Portland. It is very important that our 911 system be used only for reporting active fires and serious medical problems. Your cooperation with this will save lives!
- For non-emergencies in Portland such as illegal fireworks display, call the non-emergency line (after the July 4 holiday if possible) at 503-823-3333.
Instead of purchasing and using fireworks within the city limits, we encourage you to attend one of the many professionally operated fireworks displays in the region to celebrate Independence Day next week legally and safely.
Source: Portland Fire Bureau