5 ms·

It’s not really accurate to say we “light stuff on fire” considering how fireworks function. Not much in a firework is actually all that hot post explosion, fo

by Zetice 3y ago

It’s not really accurate to say we “light stuff on fire” considering how fireworks function. Not much in a firework is actually all that hot post explosion, for example.

solardev 3y ago
Can you explain? Are you saying something about the chemistry or mechanics of fireworks makes them unable or unlikely to start wildfires, vs say a smoldering campfire or lightning or whatever?
- Zetice 3y ago
  Yeah, basically. Their main goal is to emit their energy via light, not heat, and while if you fire one right into a dense, dry forest it won’t go well, their standard use has their explosion occur in the open air, after which the remains are generally pretty cool.
  - solardev 3y ago
    Don't the "embers" (if that's even the right word/phenomenon) remain fiery though? The last show I went to, about half the explosions started small ground fires that staff had to manually put out every few minutes.
    - msrenee 3y ago
      They stay hot, but not so much fiery generally. You're talking about a professional fireworks show as well, which are going to be bigger and presumably hotter. Lighting off artillery shells last night, by the time the debris fluttered down, it was cool to the touch. The tubes on the ground are a different story though. Shoot, the debris from the one the neighbors so kindly dropped in the tube upside down when I was 30 feet away didn't burn me. Wasn't happy about it, but wasn't even singed. Were they lighting the fireworks directly on a dry field? How far from the tubes were these fires starting?
      - solardev 3y ago
        I'm not sure whether it's the embers or tubes causing the fires. But here's a story about them... happens every year: https://ktvz.com/news/fire/2023/07/04/bends-bigger-pilot-butte-fourth-fireworks-show-also-sparks-spot-fires-on-the-slopes/ https://ktvz.com/news/fire/2023/07/04/bends-bigger-pilot-but... Edit: video said it was the falling fireworks that started the fires. It took two months of planning, several hundred feet of hoses, and a few engines and many firefighters pre parked there to contain it

by Zetice 3y ago

It’s not really accurate to say we “light stuff on fire” considering how fireworks function. Not much in a firework is actually all that hot post explosion, for example.

solardev 3y ago

Can you explain? Are you saying something about the chemistry or mechanics of fireworks makes them unable or unlikely to start wildfires, vs say a smoldering campfire or lightning or whatever?

Zetice 3y ago
Yeah, basically. Their main goal is to emit their energy via light, not heat, and while if you fire one right into a dense, dry forest it won’t go well, their standard use has their explosion occur in the open air, after which the remains are generally pretty cool.
- solardev 3y ago
  Don't the "embers" (if that's even the right word/phenomenon) remain fiery though? The last show I went to, about half the explosions started small ground fires that staff had to manually put out every few minutes.
  - msrenee 3y ago
    They stay hot, but not so much fiery generally. You're talking about a professional fireworks show as well, which are going to be bigger and presumably hotter. Lighting off artillery shells last night, by the time the debris fluttered down, it was cool to the touch. The tubes on the ground are a different story though. Shoot, the debris from the one the neighbors so kindly dropped in the tube upside down when I was 30 feet away didn't burn me. Wasn't happy about it, but wasn't even singed. Were they lighting the fireworks directly on a dry field? How far from the tubes were these fires starting?
    - solardev 3y ago
      I'm not sure whether it's the embers or tubes causing the fires. But here's a story about them... happens every year: https://ktvz.com/news/fire/2023/07/04/bends-bigger-pilot-butte-fourth-fireworks-show-also-sparks-spot-fires-on-the-slopes/ https://ktvz.com/news/fire/2023/07/04/bends-bigger-pilot-but... Edit: video said it was the falling fireworks that started the fires. It took two months of planning, several hundred feet of hoses, and a few engines and many firefighters pre parked there to contain it