Des Moines fire chief urges residents to skip consumer fireworks and attend professional shows

Des Moines Fire Chief Jonathan Lund urged residents to avoid using consumer fireworks this Independence Day, saying the city27s mature trees and closely spaced houses make consumer displays particularly hazardous and unpredictable.

Lund said consumer fireworks often cause unintended structure fires and burn injuries and place an extra burden on local firefighters and medics during the holiday period. "Don't put an additional burden on your firefighters and medics by using consumer fireworks," he said.

The fire chief cited common mishaps including misfires and fireworks that appear expended but later ignite, and he warned that those failures can escalate into structure fires or explosions that cause serious burn injuries. "If you are going to use consumer fireworks, when you're done, it is critically important that you soak those spent fireworks uh in a bucket of water and leave them there," Lund said.

A recorded account included in the presentation said a fire on Leland Avenue began after a homeowner left fireworks in a garage; the fireworks ignited and spread to a second garage before crews contained the blaze. That example was presented to illustrate how quickly a discarded firework can start a larger incident.

Lund encouraged residents to attend the city27s professional-grade displays instead of using consumer fireworks, pointing to shows on the downtown bridges and at Riverview Park. He said the Des Moines Fire Department would prefer residents "leave the fireworks to the professionals and enjoy celebrating our nation's independence."

No formal action or new ordinance was announced during the presentation. Lund27s remarks were framed as public-safety guidance and a community appeal to reduce preventable fires and injuries this holiday.

The Des Moines Fire Department plans to continue public outreach around the holiday; residents seeking more information on official shows or safety recommendations were directed to the department's regular communications channels.