The state of Florida in April 2020 signed a new law whereby fireworks are legal on the
Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. For those three days per year, this will supersede current Hillsborough County ordinances.
As a family-oriented community who cares about one another, please be considerate and neighborly of your neighbors; their children, their pets, and their property.
Fireworks may cause life-changing injury, emotional stress to our veterans with PTSD, fires, wildlife disturbance, and scare our pets to the point that some require sedation. Local animal services agencies are inundated with lost pets the day after the 4th of July and New Year’s Eve.
In the past, there have been injuries, complaints of noise, late, late night detonations, aerial pyrotechnics exploding over pool cages, hot ash landing on pool cages and cars, dry vegetation conditions where fireworks were being used, and concern over children and a lack of adult supervision.
It is our keen desire to keep everyone safe and property undamaged this year.
The best way to enjoy fireworks is at a show staged by professionals but to celebrate safely at home, West Hampton residents should follow these suggested precautions:
- Use sparklers and other legal novelties on a flat, hard surface. Do not light them on grass.
- Use sparklers in an outdoor open area. Keep children and pets at least 30 feet away from all ignited sparklers.
- Light only one item at a time and never attempt to re-light a “dud.” Never lean over it to investigate.
- Do not use any unwrapped items or items that may have been tampered with.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or hose on-hand for emergencies. It is a good idea to drop used sparklers in a bucket of water.
- Only purchase fireworks from licensed vendors.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
- Never carry sparklers in your pocket or shoot rockets off in metal or glass containers.
- Never discharge a firearm during a holiday celebration.
- Please clean up fireworks debris associated with your celebration.
Note on sparklers:
There is still a risk of injury with the use of legal sparklers. When lit, some sparklers can reach temperatures between 1,300 and 1,800 degrees – at least 200 degrees hotter than standard butane lighters. Be very careful.