Fireworks Data and Statistics
The following data and statistics show how important it is to practice safety first when setting off fireworks.
Wisconsin statistics from recent years
In 2023, there were 126 emergency department visits with a fireworks-related injury.
- Males accounted for 71% of those visits.
- One quarter (25%) were children (ages 0-17).
- Additionally, there were 13 hospitalizations due to firework-related injuries in 2023.
In 2024, there were 137 emergency department visits with a fireworks-related injury.
- Males accounted for 72% of those visits.
- Almost one third (28%) were children (ages 0-17).
- Additionally, there were 15 hospitalizations with firework-related injuries in 2024.
Source: Wisconsin Hospital Inpatient Discharges and Emergency Department Visits
Notes: Emergency department visits are defined as all visits and include those transferred to a hospital. Hospitalizations are defined as visits that may or may not have a principal diagnosis of injury, but they do have a code referencing a firework injury in one of the other diagnosis fields.
National statistics
On the national level, fireworks statistics show:
- According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2023 fireworks caused an estimated 32,302 reported fires in the U.S. Of these fires, 3,760 were structure fires, 849 were vehicle fires, and 27,252 were outside fires.
- As a result of these fires there were 15 civilian deaths, 58 civilian injuries, and $142 million in property damage.
- Structure fires were the cause of 77% of these deaths, 83% of these injuries, and 88% of the property damage despite only accounting for 11% of fires.
- In 2023, 9,700 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
- According to a special study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 6,400 fireworks-related injuries were seen in the month surrounding July Fourth (June 16, 2023-July 16, 2023), and during that time period:
- Roughly one-third (31%) of the victims of fireworks injuries were under age 15. Eight percent were under age five.
- Males accounted for about two-thirds (67%) of fireworks injuries.
- Nearly half (48%) of fireworks injuries were to extremities—hand or finger (35%), leg (8%), and arm (5%). Most of the rest (41% of total) were to parts of the head, face and ear (22% of total) and the eye (19% of total).
- Sparklers, fountains, and other novelties, like reloadable fireworks or roman candles, accounted for almost one-third (31%) of emergency room fireworks injuries.
- According to a special study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 6,400 fireworks-related injuries were seen in the month surrounding July Fourth (June 16, 2023-July 16, 2023), and during that time period:
- Firework-related injuries seen in the emergency department increased significantly from 2008 to 2023, by 561 firework injuries each year.