RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond Fire Department is reminding citizens of the City of Richmond’s fireworks ordinance and safety surrounding fireworks, ahead of the July 4 holiday.

According to Sec. 13-197., fireworks are prohibited in the City of Richmond – except for permitted public displays conducted by professionals. Illegally discharging fireworks may subject the responsible party to legal action. Illegally discharging fireworks is a violation of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code and is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor. Anyone caught can be subject to penalties of up to $2,500 for each offense and/or up to a year in jail.

Fireworks cause thousands of injuries each year, including one recently reported here in the City of Richmond. At approximately 7:12 p.m. on June 17, 2021, a RFD crew responded to the 2100 block of Creighton Road for the report of a teenage patient who had been burned while playing with fireworks. The patient was treated on scene.

Below are some statistics and fireworks safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

• Fireworks start an average of 19,500 fires per year – including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and an average of $1053 million in direct property damage.
• In 2018, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 people for fireworks related injuries; half of those injuries were to the extremities and 34% were to the eye or other parts of the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2018 injuries.
• Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries as they burn hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
• Burns account for 44% of the 9,100 injuries treated in emergency rooms seen in the month around July 4.
• Half of the fireworks injuries seen at emergency rooms were extremities: hand, finger, or leg. One-third were to the eye or other parts of the head.
• Children ages 10–14 had the highest rate of fireworks injury, with more than one-third (36%) of the victims of fireworks injuries under age 15.

Below are permitted public fireworks displays in the City of Richmond:

1. Dogwood Dell: The fireworks display will take place on Sunday, July 4 beginning approximately at 9:15 p.m. This year, the City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) will not have entertainment or food vendors available prior to the fireworks show. Seating within the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater will not be available for viewing the fireworks. The show can be seen from the Shields and Swan Lakes area, Fountain Lake area, and the area in front of the historic Carillon.
2. The Diamond: Independence Weekend Celebration with dueling fireworks after the games on Saturday, July 3, 2021 and Sunday, July 4, 2021. Both games at the Diamond on Arthur Ashe Boulevard start at 6:05 p.m.; fireworks to follow.

Anyone with questions or concerns can call our Fire Marshal’s Office directly at (804) 646-6640 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding City of Richmond holidays.