"Playing with fireworks invites disaster, and without a license, it's against the law."  So says the Fair Lawn Mayor and Council.  "It simply is just not worth the risks of injury, fire, or penalty."

Instead, when celebrating the Fourth of July, the Mayor and Council urge residents to attend fireworks displays put on by trained professionals who follow nationally recognized codes and standards for safety.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that fireworks cause tens of thousands of dollars in property damage, thousands of injuries as well as deaths each year.  According to the NFPA, more than half of those injuries occur to persons under age 20.  Because of fireworks' unpredictability, innocent bystanders are often victimized.  And flying rockets are quite capable of igniting a nearby house or flammable liquid.  Even seemingly safe sparklers pose a hazard as they heat up to 1200*F and emit hot cinders flying out of control.

For further information on fire safety, contact Fair Lawn Fire Marshal Jay Bender at 201-794-5408 or FireMarshal@FairLawn.org

The Fair Lawn Council is comprised of Mayor Jeanne Baratta, Deputy Mayor John Cosgrove, Deputy Mayor Edward Trawinski, Councilmember Kurt Peluso, and Councilmember Lisa Swain.