There have been more than 500 fires and explosions involving illegal fireworks in Massachusetts in the past five years. Seven firefighters were injured in these incidents, and damages were estimated at more than $1.5 million.
Between 2019 and 2023, Massachusetts medical facilities treated more than 200 people for burns and other injuries associated with fireworks. Two dozen people were treated for severe burn injuries that covered 5% or more of the victim’s body.
Massachusetts law prohibits the possession, use, and sale of fireworks without a permit and certification. The law applies even if you buy them legally in another state. Leave fireworks to the professionals and see a great professional fireworks display this year.
Wilmington Fun on the Fourth – June 26 – June 30
Wakefield Parade – July Fourth
Celebrating 100 years! The parade starts on July 4th at 5 pm at the Lakeside office park. It then travels down North Avenue, turning left onto Church Street, then right onto Common Street, and straight through to Main Street. The reviewing stand is at the Americal Civic Center on Main Street. The parade concludes at the Galvin Middle School.
Professional Fireworks Displays Near Reading
| Location | Date | Time | Display Location | Rain Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 6/29/2024 | 9:00 PM | Wilmington H.S. Field – 159 Church St. | 6/30/2024 |
| Wilmington | 6/30/2024 | 9:30 PM | Wilmington H.S. Field – 159 Church St. | 7/01/2024 |
| Haverhill | 7/01/2024 | 9:15 PM | Riverside Park – 163 Lincoln Ave. | 7/02/2024 |
| Tewksbury | 7/02/2024 | 9:30 PM | 286 Livingston St. | 7/07/2024 |
| Andover | 7/03/2024 | 9:20 PM | Andover H.S. – 80 Shawsheen Rd. | N/A |
| Lawrence | 7/03/2024 | 9:30 PM | Field across from HS – 71 North Parish Rd. | 7/05/2024 |
| Lynn | 7/03/2024 | 9:00 PM | Barge near Red Rock – 76 Marine Blvd. | 7/05/2024 |
| Needham | 7/03/2024 | 9:30 PM | Needham HS Parking lot – 609 Webster St. | N/A |
| Beverly | 7/04/2024 | 9:15 PM | Barge 800’ off West Beach – 121 West St. | 7/05/2024 |
| Boston | 7/04/2024 | 10:30 PM | 5 barges in Charles River | 7/05/2024 |
| Lowell | 7/04/2024 | 9:00 PM | Pedestrian Walkway – Aiken Street | 7/05/2024 |
| Newton | 7/04/2024 | 9:15 PM | Albemarle Field – 250 Albemarle Rd. | 7/05/2024 |
| Salem | 7/04/2024 | 9:00 PM | Salem Maritime Nt’l Historic Site – 160 Derby St. | 8/10/2024 |
| Wakefield | 7/04/2024 | 9:30 PM | End of Beacon St. | 7/05/2024 |
| Lexington | 7/05/2024 | 9:30 PM | Lexington HS Baseball field – Worthen Rd. | N/A |
| Methuen | 7/06/2024 | 9:30 PM | Exit 4 off-ramp of MA-Route 213 – Pleasant Valley St. | 7/13/2024 |
| North Andover | 7/06/2024 | 9:30 PM | Hayes Stadium – 495 Main St. | 7/07/2024 |
The Dangers of Illegal Fireworks
There were 944 fires and explosions involving illegal fireworks in Massachusetts in the past 10 years. These incidents caused 3 civilian injuries, 43 fire service injuries, and millions of dollars in damages.
Massachusetts medical facilities treated 31 people for severe burn injuries from fireworks in the last 10 years. These reports reflect burns covering 5% or more of the victim’s body.
All fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts for private residents. This is true even if you buy them legally in another state. See a great professional fireworks display this year.
Sparklers Are No Exception
Fireworks and sparklers are not safe, especially around children. Sparklers burn at temperatures of over 1,800° Fahrenheit. This is hotter than the melting point of aluminum! Children suffer some of the most severe burn injuries caused by sparklers.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said, “there were an estimated 1,600 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 900 with sparklers” in 2020. This accounted for almost 10% of all fireworks-related injuries that year. Of those 900 injuries from sparklers, 44% were to children under the age of 5.
In addition to causing injuries, sparklers are hot enough to cause fires — even after they’ve been extinguished. In 2022, the unsafe disposal of sparklers caused a three-alarm fire in Dracut that displaced nine people.
