PUBLIC INFORMATION:June 30, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaycee Lagarde
850-435-1623
klagarde@cityofpensacola.com Celebrate July Fourth Safely in Escambia County and the City of Pensacola
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola wish residents and visitors a safe, fun July Fourth with friends and family, and remind everyone to follow these fireworks safety tips to make the most out of their holiday. Remember: If you spot a brush or wildfire or if someone is injured, call 911.
Remember, discharging fireworks is illegal in City of Pensacola limits, per city ordinance, other than permitted public fireworks displays. Sparklers are allowed.City of Pensacola ordinances prohibiting fireworks in city limits are not impacted by the 2020 amendment to Florida Statute 791.08, which made the use of certain fireworks legal in the state of Florida on select holidays including the Fourth of July. The state law does not invalidate or supersede local regulations for the use of fireworks. To view City of Pensacola ordinances prohibiting fireworks within city limits, click here.The safest way to enjoy fireworks with your family is to participate in one of the following public fireworks displays:Pensacola's 4th of July Fireworks – The Greater Pensacola Chamber and Pensacola Young Professionals are thrilled to present this year's highly anticipated fireworks show over the scenic Pensacola Bayfront. This spectacular event promises to illuminate the night sky and ignite the hearts of residents and visitors alike, creating an unforgettable experience for all in attendance. Pensacola residents and visitors are encouraged to bring their picnic blankets, chairs, and radios and plan to arrive early to secure the best viewing spots along Bayfront Parkway and fully immerse themselves in the festivities. The evening's celebrations kick off with Symphony Sparks & Stars, a free Pensacola Symphony concert at the amphitheater behind the Wahoos stadium, sponsored by Peter Mougey, starting at 7:30 p.m. Radios are highly encouraged to enjoy the synchronized music and avoid the delays that come with streaming apps. Additionally, an exciting lineup of local food trucks will be serving up fantastic eats in Bartram Park from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. T he fireworks display over Pensacola Bay will begin at 9 pm. Don’t forget to bring along a radio to tune into the choreographed music broadcast on Cat Country 98.7 FM. Please do not bring your dogs or any of your own fireworks.
Pensacola Beach 4th of July Fireworks – The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce's Fourth of July Fireworks display over the Santa Rosa Sound is set to begin at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. This year, the Beach Chamber is joining forces with the Downtown Pensacola fireworks show, creating a spectacular dual Independence Day celebration in the sky! Both firework shows will simulcast live on Cat Country 98.7 radio station. Event-goers are asked to tune into the station starting at 9 p.m. for the singing of the National Anthem, followed by patriotic music to accompany both firework displays.
If you decide to celebrate the Fourth of July at home with sparklers, it’s important to know sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - as hot as a blowtorch and hot enough to melt some metals. Here are some helpful tips to minimize your chance of accident or injury: Only purchase state-approved sparklers from licensed vendors. Prior to use, be sure to read and follow all warnings and instructions. Only light sparklers on a flat, smooth surface away from combustible materials. Do not light them on grass. Keep a fire extinguisher or water hose on hand for emergencies. Never have any portion of your body directly over the sparkler when lighting the fuse. Never allow children to play with or use any sparkler or novelty device without supervision. Do not use any unwrapped item that may have been tampered with. Light only one item at a time and never attempt to re-light a “dud.” Discard all products safely. Submerge used and “dud” sparklers in water prior to placing in household trash receptacles.
Fireworks and Pets
Unlike people, pets don’t associate the noise, flashes and burning smell of fireworks with celebration. As a result, fireworks can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for some pets. Your pet may display unexpected behavior while trying to escape from the loud noises including jumping a fence to find safety, running away or “flight from fright,” destruction of yard or household items, and biting. Please follow these tips:
- Do not take your pet to fireworks displays.
- Do not leave your pet in the car while you watch a fireworks display. In only a matter of minutes, the heat in a car can cause serious health problems or even death. A stressed animal can also cause major damage to the interior of your car.
- Be mindful of hot asphalt and sand. Keeping your dog on hot asphalt or sand even for short periods of time can cause severe burns to the pads of their feet.
- Never leave pets unattended outside, not even in a fenced yard or on a chain, if you are near a fireworks display or if your neighbors are lighting small fireworks. They may try to run away or become tangled up in their chain.
- Keep pets indoors. Turn on the TV or radio as a distraction and close the curtains.
- Provide a pet bed or crate in a quiet place to create a small den-like atmosphere and a sense of security.
- If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
- Make sure your pet has proper identification tags with current information in case they run away.
- If your pet often becomes stressed during periods of loud noise like thunderstorms, check with your veterinarian to see if a sedative is appropriate for your pet.
Shelters often see an increase in lost pets after fireworks displays. If your pet runs away, post and search for lost pets at myescambia.com/animalshelter or call (850) 595-3075.
Fireworks-Related Injuries- Fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.
- 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 (36%) of the estimated 2018 injuries. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2018 Fireworks Annual Report by Yongling Tu and Jason Ng.
Source: NFPA’s Fireworks Fires and Injuries report |
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Each July Fourth, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks - devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death. |
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For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.
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