In Adams, more than 20 members of the Hoosac Valley High School football and boy's basketball teams, accompanied by 15 parents and the teams' head coaches fanned out across the town digging out 250 of the town's nearly 400 fire hydrants that were partially or completely buried from this months winter storms.

The idea for the work crew came from the football and basketball booster parents who read about the fatal fire earlier in the week and thought that they could do something to help give back to the community that often supports their efforts.

While a snow-covered hydrant didn't impede firefighting efforts in last week's deadly blaze on West Street, Adams Assistant Fire Chief John Pansecchi said it brought attention the need to have a clear path to hydrants.

"That fire we had required a firefighter five minutes to shovel out a hydrant — five minutes not working on the fire," he said. "We plan ahead, with several guys carrying snow shovels just in case."

The team members spent approximately 3 hours shoveling out the town's hydrants. The toughest part of the job?

"You had to get behind some of them and chop away at the ice," said Hoosac Valley freshman Adam Bush.

Freshman Matt Hall was told by Adams fire officials it's also important to have plenty of room for firefighters to hook up the hoses.

"They need to have a path all the way around [the hydrant,]" he said.

From the Office of the State Fire Marshal • www.mass.gov/dfs • (978) 567-3380

Be Smart...
Leave Fireworks
to the Professionals

Enjoy supervised professional fireworks displaysLocal fire departments supervise fireworks displays all over the Massachusetts. Unfortunately, children and adults continue to set off illegal fireworks that start fires and cause serious injuries to themselves and others.

Fireworks can be deadlyA 45-year old Gloucester woman died in a December 22, 2003 house fire when someone threw fireworks and ignited a Christmas tree in the living room. Three other people were injured. On May 20, 1997, a 26-year old man from Watertown was killed while he was lighting fireworks in a hallway. A 27-year old Framingham man was killed on July 4, 1993, when backyard fireworks exploded in hisface. On July 4, 1992, fireworks fatally injured a 30-year old man on a Fairhaven beach.

All fireworks are illegal in MassachusettsThe possession and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.” Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more. Sparklers burn at 1800ºF.

It is illegal to transport fireworks into Massachusetts, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere. Illegal fireworks can be confiscated on the spot.

Do not purchase fireworks through mail-order or online catalogsThe distribution of mail-order catalogs that clearly state that fireworks are illegal in some jurisdictions cannot be prohibited. State and local police regularly confiscate illegal shipments of fireworks into Massachusetts. Many unhappy consumers have lost both their money and the fireworks trying to circumvent the law.

Set a good example for childrenChildren imitate adults. If you use fireworks, children will copy you, not realizing how very dangerous fireworks are. Sixty percent of fireworks-related burn injuries reported by hospitals to the Office of the State Fire Marshal in 2013 were to children under age 18. Over one-quarter (27%) of the victims were children under age 10.

Fires caused by fireworks

In the past decade (2004-2013) there have been 802 major fire and explosion incidents involving illegal fireworks reported to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS). The incidents caused 14 civilian injuries, two fire service injuries, and an estimated dollar loss of $2 million, which is high considering most fireworks fires are outdoor brush fires.

• On August 4, 2013 the Chicopee Fire Department responded to a fireworks explosion that severely injured a resident’s hand and also injured his young son. The State Police Bomb Squad was called to dispose of the illegal commercial grade fireworks.
• On July 5, 2013, the Lowell Fire Department responded to a fire in an eight-unit apartment building. Fireworks set off inside a trash can on a porch started the fire.
• On July 7, 2013, the Plymouth Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in a boat house. Someone ignited fireworks near storage supplies that started the fire. Damages were estimated at $4,000.
• On January 9, 2013, Belmont firefighters extinguished two fires in one car; one in the passenger seat and one in the trunk. Smoldering fireworks caused the fires. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $5,000.
• On July 4, 2013, the Worcester Fire Department responded to a fire in a three-unit apartment building. Fireworks ignited the roof. One firefighter was injured at this fire. Damages were estimated at $12,000.
• On March 20, 2014 the Abington Fire Department responded to a fireworks explosion in an apartment complex. A youth’s hand was amputated and a 31-year old man was injured when consumer grade fireworks exploded inside his apartment.

Burns caused by fireworksIn the past decade (2004-2013), 49 people were treated at Massachusetts emergency rooms for severe burn injuries from fireworks (burns covering 5% of more of the body) according to the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (M-BIRS). Seventy-two percent of the victims were children and youths under age 25. These victims are scarred for life.

• On March 18, 2013, a 19-year old Dartmouth man severely burned his hand when fireworks exploded inside his home.
• On September 20, 2013, a 38-year old Boston man received severe chemical burns to approximately 30% of his body while experimenting at home with chemicals and fireworks that exploded.
• On August 10, 2013, a 33-year old Beverly man was holding a handful of sparklers. While trying to light one sparkler, heinadvertently ignited them all and burned his hands.
• On June 5, 2013, an 8-year old girl sat on a sparkler that ignited her dress. She received burns to 7% of her body.