LAMORINDA WEEKLY | This happened in five seconds


A ConFire firefighter drops a lit sparkler in a nearby field. The vegetation was ablaze five seconds later. Photos Nick Marnell

Capt. David Woods dropped a lit sparkler to the ground during a June 19 Contra Costa County Fire Protection District training session and in five seconds, the vegetation was completely ablaze. The exercise occurred in a confined, regulated space, with dozens of firefighters readily available.

If you try this at home, you will likely not be immediately surrounded by professional emergency personnel.

"Sparklers burn at 1,200 to 2,000 degrees. They can very easily start fires, they are not safe and they are illegal," said Capt. George Laing.

With the dry grasses in the area, illegal fireworks can cause hundreds of fires, taking off the street firefighters who could answer other emergency calls. Laing recommends that you enjoy the aerial firework displays licensed and regulated by the fire districts, like the Fourth of July fireworks show put on by the town of Moraga.

"We do not need any more ignition sources," Laing said.