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Does it sparkle or fly? Forget it

All but pea-sized poppers are illegal in Denver

By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Denver fire chief Nick Nuanes (left) and Denver Police technician Dean Christopherson at a demonstration of illegal fireworks June 29, 2008.

Photo by Julie Poppen © The Rocky

Denver fire chief Nick Nuanes (left) and Denver Police technician Dean Christopherson at a demonstration of illegal fireworks June 29, 2008.

An example of legal fireworks.

Photo by Julie Poppen © The Rocky

An example of legal fireworks.

An example of illegal fireworks.

Photo by Julie Poppen © The Rocky

An example of illegal fireworks.

Demonstration at a Denver training facility of illegal fireworks starting a fire and of a watermelon exploding.

Video Video: Demonstration at a Denver training facility of illegal fireworks starting a fire and of a watermelon exploding. Watch »

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It's almost July 4, so get ready to bust out those little, round popper thingies you throw at the ground because they're the only type of explosive that's legal in Denver.

Forget sparklers, fountains, Roman candles or rockets.

Banned.

And never, ever, try to blow up fruit. Only trained authorities can do that. Denver firefighters demonstrated the sheer destructive power of various fireworks Sunday by blowing up a honeydew melon and a watermelon.

They also blew up a rubber glove and started an impressive fire using paper debris and wayward fireworks.

Here are some things Denver police and fire officials want you to know:

* Police wrote 158 citations last year to people who were using, selling or carrying illegal fireworks.

* In Denver, penalties can include a $999 fine or even a year in jail.

* Instead of driving your neighbors and their howling pets nuts, go to any one of the sanctioned fireworks shows in the Denver area. See county and city Web sites for information.

* Nationwide, 10,000 people are injured every July 4 - most of them under age 15. Most injuries are to the extremities and eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

* A sparkler reaches a temperature of 1,200 to 2,000 degrees - the same as a welding torch. Grabbing a lit sparkler can net someone an immediate third-degree burn, said Denver police technician Dean Christopherson.

* "Every year we have individuals hurt because they've gone across the (county) line and purchased illegal fireworks," said Denver Fire Chief Nick Nuanes.

* Snap pops are legal. The pea-sized devices contain a few grains of sand that have been coated with a tiny amount of impact-sensitive silver fulminate twisted together in a piece of tissue paper. The silver fulminate ignites when the popper is thrown against a hard surface, according to the Web site pyrouniverse.com.

Comments

  • June 30, 2008

    6:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    elkman writes:

    A myth? About 2 years ago, I saw a house completely destroyed by a kid who threw a firecracker into a bush in front of a "residential house". The fire quickly spread to a tree and to the house, before the fire department could respond. As dry as it is right now, I will call the police when my next door neighbor starts with the firecrackers. I value my property and "no firecrackers" in Denver suits me just fine.

  • June 30, 2008

    7 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    elkman writes:

    Milehiguy
    I suppose you think every jerk and every kid should be able to shoot firecrackers off whenever and wherever they want? Sounds real responsible. Don't we have enough problems without idiots starting fires?

  • June 30, 2008

    8:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    earlbowden writes:

    I've been in my neighborhood for 5 years now. Every year for an entire week around July 4 someone close by lets go with the fireworks. It scares the hell out my dogs. Every year I call the police, and every year they ask me where they are shooting them off. And every year I tell them my neighborhood is filled with big trees, I can't see them, but if I can hear them clearly inside my house with the windows closed, they must be close.

    How about you send a patrol car out, and drive around the neighborhood, Insepctor Clouseau, and find them yourself.

  • June 30, 2008

    9:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    sheepherder writes:

    Money well spent by Denver. And those $1000 fines will help pay the city back for having to form units to catch these pyros!