Police: it is risky and dangerous to buy fireworks from an unofficial place in Hungary

Everyone should buy fireworks only from an expert, licensed seller, not from private imports, in markets, gatehouses and gatehouse

By: dailynewshungary.com

Dec 30 2024
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Police: it is risky and danger

In order to prevent accidents, everyone should buy fireworks only from an expert, licensed seller, not from private imports, in markets, gatehouses and gatehouses, said the head of the Fire Department of the Emergency Police at a press conference in Budapest on Monday.

Small and medium fireworks of unchecked origin, category III, can cause disfiguring, possibly fatal injuries and considerable material damage if they are not used professionally or their origin and operation is unknown, said András Huszák.

Private imports are also dangerous because products imported from abroad do not have instructions for use in Hungarian, and can cause accidents if used improperly, he added.

As he said, fireworks can be bought from 28 December, used between 6 pm on 31 December and 6 am on 1 January, and returned to the vendors by 5 December. The latter is all the more important because anyone who still has unused fireworks after 5 December is committing an offence, he added.

He pointed out that the devices should be stored in a dry place, away from flammable materials, protected from radiant heat and kept at a distance of 15 metres when in use.

The three most common types of fireworks are rockets, bombs and Roman candles. Rockets are also available during this period, but their use is not recommended as their trajectory is unpredictable and can cause serious accidents and fires.

The Lieutenant Colonel stressed that everyone should only buy fireworks in intact packaging, never operate them by hand, never lean over the devices, and that the possession and use of firecrackers is also prohibited on New Year’s Eve.

Soma Csécsi, spokesman for the Budapest Police Headquarters, pointed out that on New Year’s Eve, crowds usually gather in the centre of Budapest, and people gather in concentrated places in small areas.

In this situation, the municipality of the V. district has issued a decree banning the use of pyrotechnic devices in certain public areas of the city centre, such as the northern part of Váci Street, Szent István Square and Vörösmarty Square, he said.

Violators of the decree can be fined up to 200,000 forints by the municipality, and the exact list of public areas can be found on the police website, he added.

He also said that five bags of fireworks of unknown origin had been seized from illegal sellers immediately before the press conference.

The press conference included a demonstration on the premises of the Riot Police. The demonstration showed how serious injuries can be caused by improperly used fireworks.