Fireworks: Light Up The Sky And Make Sure Nothing Else!

7/13/2017 (Permalink)

Fireworks is part of our Independence Day tradition painting the sky on the evening of the 4th of July and all through the summer.

Unfortunately as they shoot upward so do injuries, fires and the resulting home insurance claims.  Although your basic homeowners' insurance covers fires, your policy is not likely to cover fires caused by fireworks your family sets off, particularly in states where they are deemed illegal which includes our great state of Massachusetts.   
July 4^th is the one day of the year with the highest number of fires reported according to the National Fire Protection Association. More than half of these fires are caused by people shooting off rockets in their own backyard.   On average, fireworks cause over 18,500 fires a year, including 1300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside fires with an average of $43 million in direct property damage according to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions Fireworks Annual Report (2015). 
Even if your state permits the use of fireworks, you may want to rethink whether that would be a wise decision. Instead of a 'do-it-yourself' fireworks show, your family could sit back, relax and enjoy the display so many local towns host. And you have the added benefit of knowing your family is not in harm's way.