Rail Fire Burns 1,218 Fireworks Packages

With the Fourth of July coming up quick, we find ourselves once again thinking about fireworks both as a fun way to celebrate Independence Day and as a hazardous material in transportation.

Already in 2025 there have been multiple hazmat incidents involving fireworks in transportation, including one where a fire started with a rail car’s wheel and transferred to the container. The container contained 1,218 packages of fireworks and every package in the container failed.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt, no evacuations were mandated, and the reported response cost was only $2,000. Nonetheless, fireworks are hazardous materials and so the hazmat incident report was necessary.

Hazmat Incident Reporting Requirements

When a hazardous material is released during transportation, the incident must be reported to US DOT using Form F 5800.1. Depending on the severity of a release and the materials involved, an immediate phone report to the National Response Center (NRC) may be required. A hazmat release can trigger environmental reporting requirements, too.

The severity of the incident determines both who receives the initial report and how soon after the incident a report must be made.

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Fireworks As Hazardous Materials

Most commercial fireworks are regulated as Division 1.4G explosive materials in transportation. Like nearly all hazardous materials, Division 1.4G explosives are subject to extensive US DOT requirements for packaging, markings and labels, and documentation. Employees who prepare and handle shipments must complete required hazmat training (see 49 CFR 172.704).

Based on hazmat incident reporting data available from DOT/PHMSA, transportation incidents involving fireworks are relatively rare. Common causes of incidents that include a release of a 1.4G material include:

• Failure to block and brace cargo
• Dropped packages and containers
• Packages punctured with forklifts or sharp objects

In-person DOT Hazmat Training Certification

Join Lion for engaging, lively in-person training and develop the expertise you need to classify and name hazardous materials, package hazmat, mark and label packages, fill out shipping papers, and comply with DOT security plan and security training requirements for hazmat employees.

Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT) Workshop

Tags: fireworks, hazmat incident