Key points:
- Each municipality in Colorado designates what fireworks are permissible.
- In Denver all consumer-grade fireworks are banned, including sparklers.
- You must monitor illegal fireworks at Independence Day events.
Hotels, country clubs, rooftop bars, and private venues in and around Denver host Independence Day events. In addition to general safety and occupancy compliance, you must monitor for fireworks. Even if consumer-grade, you’re liable if fireworks ignite. Your special event permit and insurance policy dictate the minimum number of fire monitors required at your event. Many venues staff another monitor or two to address the unique considerations of July 4th fire watch. Or they require the person renting their venue to increase the number of monitors.
The City and County of Denver ban all consumer-grade fireworks. This includes sparklers, fountains, glow worms, and smoke bombs. Due to the higher-than-average statewide fire risk, Colorado bans aerial fireworks, including firecrackers, mortars, and rockets. Every city and county is unique; many allow sparklers, many do not.
Guests May Not Know Local Firework Laws
Many holiday event attendees travel from throughout the state or from other states to visit friends and family. They may bring fireworks with them that are legal in their city, county, or state. They may not consider sparklers or glow worms to be fireworks, let alone a fire hazard.
Liability Falls on You
Whether a guest is unintentionally violating local laws or has intentionally smuggled fireworks in, liability falls on you. If you’re renting your venue to a third party, liability might be shared, but commercial liability is your responsibility.
If your event is hosted in a city or county that allows sparklers, it’s prudent to ban them at your event. Sparklers burn at between 1,200 and 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. They also have a delayed smolder effect and can ignite brush or trash if they aren’t fully extinguished before they’re disposed.
If damage or injury occurs due to unpermitted pyrotechnics:
- Your insurance policy won’t cover damages.
- You’ll be dropped by your insurance policy.
- You’ll be liable for third-party damages.
- You’ll be assessed civil penalties and fire code penalties.
- Your occupancy and/or liquor license may be suspended.
Ensure Your Contract Includes Pyrotechnics
Ensure your holiday rental and special event contract regulates the possession, ignition, and display of pyrotechnics. If something like sparklers is permitted, you can mandate a designated Burn Zone with limited occupancy and additional July 4th fire watch personnel.
If pyrotechnics are prohibited, clearly define the consequences, including immediate breach of contract, immediate event termination, and forfeiture of the security deposit. Your lawyer can advise on other consequences.
Establishing a Burn Zone
If your Fourth of July event is located in a municipality that permits sparklers, designate a controlled Burn Zone. You may also want to prohibit outside purchases, and sell or provide sparklers on site.
At minimum, Burn Zones must be:
- Strategically placed away from the main building or event.
- Strategically placed away from high-fire-risk areas.
- Located on a concrete, asphalt, or non-flammable slab or area.
- Equipped with metal buckets filled with water to extinguish sprinklers.
- Limit occupancy, which varies by the size of the Burn Zone
- Monitored by a trained and certified fire guard.
Independence Day Fire Watch in and Around Denver
Staffing additional fire guards to patrol for pyrotechnics is a proactive approach to outdoor event risk management. Although banned in Denver and many of our surrounding municipalities, guests may smuggle fireworks in.
Scout Security has you covered, staffing both standard security and dual-trained firewatchers. There’s still time to book before the holiday—Book now!
