The Hopkinsville Fire Department is issuing safety guidance to anyone shooting their own fireworks in the next few days.
It’s legal to shoot fireworks in the City of Hopkinsville July 1 through July 5 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., but they cannot be within 200 feet of any structure, vehicle or person.
It’s also illegal to ignite fireworks from a moving vehicle, on public property, or on another person’s property without their consent.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks caused an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018 including 1,900 structure fires; 500 vehicle fires; and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.
Also in 2018, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 people for fireworks related injuries; half of those injuries were to the extremities and 34% were to the eye or other parts of the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third of the injuries.