Fireworks Safety Task Force Reminds Residents to Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, the City of Phoenix Fireworks Safety Task Force reminds residents to celebrate responsibly and safely when it comes to fireworks and other seasonal hazards. The Task Force was launched in response to a sharp rise in fireworks-related complaints and emergency calls during major holidays as a comprehensive effort to curb the use of illegal fireworks and enhance public safety.  

The multi-agency Fireworks Safety Task Force includes the Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix Police Department, Public Works and Parks Departments and Maricopa Association of Governments. Together, these partners work to protect residents, pets, and property through education, enforcement, and emergency response. 

The Task Force hosted a holiday safety media demonstration at the Phoenix Fire Department Regional Training Academy on Thursday morning. The event focused on the dangers of dry Christmas trees, safe fireworks disposal, and ongoing efforts to reduce illegal fireworks use and aerial gunfire across Phoenix. 

Public safety officials emphasized that dry Christmas trees can ignite and spread fire rapidly if not properly watered or disposed of promptly after the holidays. Residents were encouraged to recycle or discard trees early to reduce the risk of house fires. The City of Phoenix’s Public Works Department will once again accept live Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands to be recycled.

During the event, officials also demonstrated proper and improper fireworks disposal methods, highlighting how discarded fireworks can remain hot and reignite if not soaked in water overnight before being placed in the trash. Fire officials urged residents to never place used fireworks in recycling bins or leave them in piles near homes or dumpsters. 

Phoenix Fire Department Assistant Fire Marshal Eric Williams offered this information on illegal fireworks: 

“Illegal fireworks by law include anything that flies above the ground or rises into the air and detonates and explodes.  Illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and unpredictable increasing the risk of fires, burns and serious injuries.  Possessing selling or using illegal fireworks can result in citations, fines and confiscation.” 

The City of Phoenix has continued to see positive results from coordinated enforcement and public education efforts, building on successes from the Fourth of July where the City saw fewer fires, an increased response, and overall safer holidays. Phoenix Police representatives reinforced that illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire remain dangerous and illegal, posing serious risks to neighborhoods. 

Lt. Brian Rimsza from the Phoenix Police Department on celebratory gunfire: 

 “Celebratory gunfire is illegal and a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The Phoenix Police Department is committed to investigating and arresting anyone who celebrates with gunfire.”

Air quality has been another important area of focus for the Task Force. Matthew Poppen, the Maricopa Association of Governments Director of Environmental Planning offered the following statistic on Phoenix’s air quality last New Year’s Day: 

“On Jan. 1 of this year, Phoenix residents woke up to the worst air quality in the nation and that was primarily due to our use of consumer fireworks. The Environmental Protection Agency has an index for how they grade air quality and on Jan 1st they graded our air quality as hazardous which means that anyone that was outside during that use of consumer fireworks was likely to experience some form of health effects.” 

City officials encouraged residents to report illegal fireworks activity through the appropriate channels and reminded the community that safe celebrations help prevent injuries, fires, and property damage, while also improving air quality during the holiday season. 

For more information on holiday safety tips and fireworks regulations, residents can visit the City of Phoenix’s Celebrate Safely webpage at Phoenix.gov/CelebrateSafely.