CPSC Warns Of Defective Fireworks

Warning that imported firework mortar shells now being sold around the country for the July 4th holiday can explode in random directions spewing bursts of flame and sparks along the ground, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said today the shells present a very serious safety and fire hazard to users and bystanders.

The defective Class C firework mortar shells are labeled as the New Festival Ball and the Silvery-Eagle Ball under the Tiger-Head Brand and are made in Fushan, Kwangtung, China.

These aerial devices are constructed with seven tubes, each three and one-half inches long and wired together in a bundle and which are interconnected with a fuse. Each tube has a clay plug at the bottom and is loaded with a noise making and sparking shell. When placed on the ground and ignited, the device is intended to fire each of the seven shells in sequence presenting an audible and visual display 50 to 75 feet up in the air.

CPSC laboratory tests indicate that as many as 45 percent of these fireworks devices fall over on their side due to the recoil produced from the first or second tube. As a result, the firework mortar shells continue to fire as many as six spark producing shells 50 to 100 feet helter-skelter along the ground. Distribution of this item appears to be centered mainly in the Midwest and Southwestern regions of the U.S. CPSC is notifying all known importers of fireworks about this problem and the American Pyrotechnic Association has informed all their industry members to be on the lookout for these fireworks devices.

CPSC recommends that consumers who have purchased the New Festival Ball or Silvery-Eagle Ball fireworks return them to the retailer where they were purchased or soak them in water for 3 hours and discard them. CPSC is urging consumers celebrating Independence Day with fireworks to purchase only fireworks labeled as "Class C" devices and to exercise caution in their use.

Last year fireworks injured more than 11,000 people seriously enough to require treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Most of the injuries were to children and youths from 5 to 20 years old whose hands, faces and eyes were harmed most frequently.

CPSC urges consumers to take the following precautions when using fireworks:

- Make sure that there is a manufacturer's label on all fireworks, and instructions for proper use. Illegally manufactured fireworks rarely have either.

- Store fireworks in a dry, cool place and avoid rough handling which might damage the fuses.

- Provide adult supervision for children and do not allow very young children to handle fireworks.

- Light fireworks only outdoors in a clear area away from houses, dry brush or anything which might ignite, and keep water available.

- Light only one device at a time.

- Soak malfunctioning devices with water to prevent their possible future use.