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 4th of July 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.

As numerous Floridians choose to purchase their own fireworks, the number of residential structure fires has increased during holidays celebrated with fireworks. Since 2021, Escambia County has experienced six residential structures and two injuries related to fireworks.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, fireworks started an estimated 31,302 fires in 2022, including 3,504 structure fires, 887 vehicle fires, 26,492 outside fires, and 418 unclassified fires. Locally, Escambia County has experienced six residential structure fires since 2021.

Residents are also encouraged to use caution while using sparklers. According to the NFPA, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under five years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.

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.

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. The 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 Thursday, 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.

For fire safety tips and other updates from Escambia County Fire Rescue, like Escambia County Fire Rescue on Facebook.