LA firefighters, Fuy or Die host show fireworks safety is no joke

The Los Angeles Fire Department teamed up with a jokester from comedy website Fuy or Die on Friday to show what can happen when fireworks aren’t handled safely.

In an effort to encourage Southe Califoians to be more careful over the Fourth of July holiday, firefighters and a host from Fuy or Die gathered at an Los Angeles Fire Department training center in East L.A., and used plastic maequins to demonstrate the types of injuries that can result from firecrackers and other types of fireworks.

The results were no laughing matter.

A maequin holding a kitchen spatula and a firecracker in one hand and a sparkler in the other, lost one of its hands as part of the demonstration.

“That’s pretty realistic of what I’ve seen in the past,” said LAFD spokesman Cody Weireter of the simulated injury.

• RELATED PHOTOS: Police, fire officials promote ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks fun for Fourth of July

Officials from the L.A. County Fire Department also took part and demonstrated the power of illegal fireworks, by blowing up a watermelon.

There were about 10,500 fireworks-related injuries in the United States in 2014, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The majority of those injuries happened between late June and July. Though the CPSC noted the data on deaths was incomplete, the agency wrote that at least 11 people died that year from fireworks-related injuries.

• RELATED VIDEO: Fuy or Die host demonstrates fireworks safety

Just over a third of the injured were children under 15 years old.

Gustavo Medina, an inspector with L.A. County fire, said the Fourth of July is typically the busiest day of the year for fire calls, whether for medical emergencies or reports of fires.

Medina said that extreme drought and hot temperatures in the region made the risk of fire started by fireworks even higher this year.

Fireworks are illegal in the city of Los Angeles, but dozens of L.A. County cities allow certain types of fireworks.

Medina stressed three ways to stay safe this weekend:

• If you’re going to buy fireworks, make sure you get them from legal vendors selling “Safe and Sane” products in L.A. County.

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• If you use fireworks, legal or not, be aware of where you’re igniting them -- blowing up fireworks near hills and areas of dry brush could spark wildfires.

• Or better yet, watch a professional fireworks show this year. They’re much safer.

Fire officials provided information on where to watch professional fireworks displays around the region this Fourth of July. Here’s the list.