Seminole County fire warns families about Fourth of July fireworks risks

Seminole County Fire warned families that fireworks can turn a holiday celebration into a burn injury, a house fire or an extra emergency call in minutes. The department urged residents to skip at-home fireworks altogether or take safety precautions before lighting anything in close-packed neighborhoods across Sanford, Oviedo, Longwood, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs.

Firefighters said the danger was not abstract. Around the Fourth of July, crews routinely respond to injuries and fires, and local warnings have pointed to burns on the hands and face, along with more severe trauma that can include loss of fingers and other limbs. Crews also keep special burn sheets ready for patients, a reminder that the holiday can quickly send families from a backyard gathering to an ambulance or an emergency room.

Seminole County Fire Marshal Christina Diaz said Florida law normally allows fireworks use on July 4, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but local burn bans and drought conditions can still restrict what residents can light. Florida is not imposing a statewide fireworks ban for July 4, yet county and city rules still matter when conditions are dry and homes sit close together.

The county’s safety advice was straightforward. Fire officials said people should wear eye protection, never let children handle fireworks and keep them away from homes and trees. They also urged families to choose professional displays instead of trying to stage their own backyard show. Seminole County guidance adds another step after the celebration ends: soak used, unused and malfunctioning fireworks in water for at least 24 hours before disposal, then bag them for trash or household hazardous-waste handling. County rules also limit fireworks to 40 pounds per household.

Statewide warnings have added urgency. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said the state had logged 2,440 wildfires since the start of the year and called on residents to follow local burn rules. Nationally, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated 14,700 fireworks-related injuries and 11 deaths in 2024.

For Seminole County firefighters, the message was practical and immediate: treat fireworks like serious equipment, because one mistake can damage a nearby home, send someone to the hospital or pull crews away from other calls during one of the busiest weekends of the year.