Fireworks Safety: Lighting Sparklers

Video Transcript

"You know sparklers can add fun to any party or holiday event. Hi I'm Captain Joe Bruni with over three decades of firefighting and emergency medical service experience. What I'm going to talk about is how to safely and properly light the common consumer sparkler. The common consumer sparkler can be lit with anything like a match, or standard butane lighter. What works as a safer measure then the standard match or butane lighter, would be the extendable butane lighter commonly referred to as the grill butane lighter for barbecue grills. That extendable type of lighter gets the flame further away from the operator of the torch or lighter itself. In that fashion getting that flame further away from the person lighting the consumer sparkler adds to the safety of any fun holiday event involving sparklers. The standard butane lighter if used, is also somewhat of a safe type of device however, keep in mind the amount of time it takes to light the common sparkler can be extended and heat up the metal around the top of the lighter. If this occurs make sure you do not touch the metal area after the sparkler lights. And of course the lighter and other torch device for lighting sparklers should only be handled by an adult under close supervision of all children involved. The lighter held to the tip of the sparkler for just a few seconds will ensure quick and rapid ignition of that sparkler. I'm Captain Joe Bruni stay safe and we will see you next time."