As New Year celebrations approach, Victorian officials are urging residents to stay away from illegal fireworks, citing the recent seizure and destruction of tens of thousands of such items and drawing attention to a fatal accident that occurred last year.
According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at Monash University, fireworks-related injuries have steadily decreased over the last 10 years. During the 2024–2025 New Year period, only nine emergency cases linked to illegal fireworks were recorded, down from approximately 41–46 cases a decade ago.
The renewed warning comes one year after a tragic incident in which a 19-year-old man from Whittlesea lost his life. The young man suffered severe injuries when a firework detonated at a construction site in Kalkallo, in Melbourne’s outer north, around 9 pm on Christmas Day 2024. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner for Community Safety, Joshua Fischer, highlighted the dangers, saying: “Christmas will never be the same for this young person’s family. We cannot stress enough – fireworks are dangerous and should only be handled by professionals.”
In the 2024–2025 period, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) responded to 76 incidents involving the unauthorised use of fireworks, firecrackers, flares, and other explosives.
Victoria Police confiscated nearly 12,000 illegal fireworks from the community, and WorkSafe destroyed 16,200 of them. In addition, inspectors seized more than 64,000 fireworks intended for licensed displays that were being stored illegally without proper authorisation in western Victoria.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan emphasised the increased bushfire risks this season: “With the fire activity we’ve already seen across the state, it’s more important than ever for people to remain vigilant and avoid behaviours that could spark fires. Safety is our No.1 priority and we want to keep our loved ones and broader communities safe during the new year celebrations.”
In Victoria, it is illegal to possess, sell, purchase, or use fireworks without a valid licence, with offenders facing substantial fines or possible imprisonment. Authorities encourage the public to attend only professional fireworks displays and to report any suspicious illegal activity.
