The Epic Fireworks Blog

Archive for the ‘Firework Safety’ Category

OK, firstly the answer is no no no. It is never a good idea to microwave fireworks of any size. We strongly dissaprove of microwaving explosives and this should not be attempted by anyone. The men in this video are trained experienced professionals…microwavers.

The large firework the guys decided to microwave was of course the Fiery Eye Catherine Wheel which is a beautiful display wheel that spins majestically sending lovely sparks and colours all around. When you put it in a microwave the results are shown above.

It does bear mentioning here that although the title of this video refers to “large” fireworks, this firework is anything but large. For a proper choice of large fireworks check the Epic Fireworks website, large fireworks is what we do.

Once again Epic Fireworks does not suggest anyone tries this themselves, leave it to the crazy Americans on the video. Thank you.

In Tehran, the capital of Iran, the big boss Ayatollah Khamenei has asked his people to boycott the Persian fire festival (Chaharshanbeh-Suri) which is scheduled for Tuesday. He called the festival un-Islamic as it is essentially praising fire and said it causes harm and corruption. Going on to say that it is best avoided.

The festival is very old, dating back to before the 7^th Century when the country was mainly Zoroastrian (what’s this? I hear you ask. It’s a proper old religion from before Islam was in Iran, ooh, I hear you say)

Traditionally Iranians have celebrated the fire festival by lighting bonfires and jumping through the flames. All innocent – if foot scorching – fun.

Recently people have died in the region while making firecrackers for the festival and many fireworks shops there have been closed down.

The authorities are reportedly a bit worried that the governments opposition will use the traditional festival as a chance for protesting against the June 2009 re-election of  President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – at this point its all gone a bit political so we are best not saying anything more on that subject.

Back to the fireworks, 128 people have been arrested for producing and distributing, wait for it, up to 3,000,000 fireworks around the city! Yes, 3 Million!! That’s a lot of firecrackers.

For the last 2 months the police in Tehran have been cracking down on firecrackers, sparklers and rockets and even home-made grenades. They have urged citizens to report any illegal firework activity to the local police.

The Chaharshanbeh-Suri (Fire Festival) festival takes place on March 16 the last Tuesday of the old year. Which is a bit odd as the word Chaharshanbeh means Wednesday and Suri is red. The red symbolises the burning sun, as do the bonfires. They are kept alight all night to welcome the New Year.

Each year, there are many injuries due to the fire festival, last year there were 1817 reported accidents requiring medical treatment, three people were killed and four others were seriously injured. Not sure whether this is due to the improper use of fireworks or the bouncing over bonfires. Either way, we do not recommend using dodgy fireworks or jumping through fire but we do wish good luck to the people of Iran in their celebrations and hope this year’s event is accident free.

Its not only Iranians that like to hurl their body through flames, it seems to be a human thing in general and all around the world there are examples of festivals and celebrations where it is customary to risk life and limb in order to be seen hurtling yourself bodily over bonfires. The picture above is from the Lewes bonfire night celebrations in the UK, where visitors from around the country are positively discouraged from attending.

This dude will almost certainly have a burnt posterior in the morning.

Nutters Revellers at the Noche de San Juan (your thinking, night of St John? No, “Midsummer” believe it or not) celebrations in Spain throw themselves over the bonfire in an age old celebration where people watch each other get burned.

This is an incredible and devastating photograph.

This blast took place at the St Helena fireworks factory in Ghargur, Birkirara 27th June 2007. Situated in an unused quarry, nothing remained of the factory after a series of after explosions completely destroyed all traces of it. Men lost their lives and the emergency services were unable to do their job amid fears of further explosions.

This breath-taking image reminds us of the dangers involved in the manufacture of fireworks and in the creation of such abundant beauty, there can be terrible loss.

Always be safe with fireworks.

A CITY newsagent has been hit with a £27,000 fine after Trading Standards found fireworks hanging from live power cables and beneath boxes of lighter fuel at his store.

Tudor Harries, who owns and runs Tudors News in Morriston, was found guilty of two offences of failing to protect staff and public while storing fireworks for sale.

Harries labelled the size of the fine “ridiculous” and said he would be appealing the decision.

City magistrates heard that Trading Standards Officers who visited the shop discovered fireworks hanging from live power cables directly above the heads of staff.

Fireworks were also found in storage beneath boxes of lighter fuel and some were stapled to the wall.

Harries was also found guilty of selling alcohol to a 15- year-old after the youth took part in a test purchase.

Although Harries failed to appear in court, magistrates imposed fines on him reaching £27,000. When approached by the Post, Harries said he had decided to appeal.

He said: “Because of the ridiculous amount, it is now going to Crown Court.”

After considering the facts, magistrates imposed two penalties each of £10,000 resulting from breaches of the Health & Safety at Work (Etc) Act 1974 for failing to protect employees and failing to protect people not in employment but exposed to the risk of improper storage of fireworks.

Cabinet member for the environment, Councillor John Hague, said: “Fireworks are allowed to be sold in controlled circumstances by responsible retailers. Responsible sales prevent people being exposed to the dangers and anti social behaviour that results from the reckless use of fireworks in the community.”

A fine of £2,500 for selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18 was also handed down.

Swansea Council’s head of environmental health services Martin Saville said: “Once again we are disappointed it has been necessary to take action for selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18.” An additional fine of £2,500 was imposed for the offence of displaying fireworks otherwise in accordance with a licence.

Further fines of £200 and £2,500 resulted from offences of displaying fireworks in a manner that was not safe and selling fireworks outside of the prescribed period.

Harries was also ordered to contribute £1,000 towards the council’s costs.

http://www.fireworksafety.me.uk

http://www.fireworksafety.me.uk

http://www.fireworksafety.me.uk

This video is a great example of how not to behave if your fireworks stand decides to explode all around you.

rule 1. do not go back to the fireworks

rule 2. do not hang around

rule 3. do not assume that pulling a tarpaulin over the back of your truck will stop the fireworks in it blowing up

rule 4. for the love of god just run!

Counting fingers.

The New Year festival in China this year had fewer accidents than last year according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. Festivities took place all across China between the 13^th and 19^th February and in that time private parties and celebrations across China caused a total of 1,626 recorded accidents. This does sound like a lot but remember this is a country with about 1.3 Billion people in it, when you think of it like that; it doesn’t seem so bad and is apparently down 3.3% on last year.

Until you think of this, 11 deaths. 11 people died that week due to firework mishaps. Makes you think what the reaction would be like in the UK if 1 person died during Bonfire Night. Yet in China it is accepted as the norm. Although we must bear in mind that almost everyman and his dog set off fireworks in China. It’s ingrained in the culture since long before we had even heard of gunpowder in this country. So who are we to argue? Still with all these deaths and injuries and accidents you do have to wonder what is causing them all.

Well apparently, its firecrackers.

The majority of accidents were caused by firecrackers being handled incorrectly; this is despite increased efforts by police forces nationwide to monitor the production, transportation, storage and sale of this extremely popular form of fireworks. The key thing to note here is it is not through faulty firecrackers, it is through faulty use.

So it seems that the injuries and accidents come from the same source they do all round the world. Not through people using fireworks, but using them irresponsibly. The solution is not to ban firecrackers (good luck getting a ban in China, firecrackers have been used there for many centuries to scare off evil demons), rather the solution is to educate people on how to better use fireworks and make them safer, and therefore more enjoyable for everyone involved.

All too often a product is banned because it has been inappropriately used by someone. You cannot blame a gun for shooting someone nor a car for hitting a pedestrian, but all to often we hear people saying fireworks should be banned because someone has been injured. We all want to reduce accidents and make the world a safer place. The best way to make it safer is through education. Maybe we have something to learn still from the Chinese, the ancient culture that gave the world fireworks in the first place.