Local fire officials offer firework safety tips ahead of July 4

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — With July Fourth just around the corner, that means fireworks and local fire officials are providing tips on how you can keep yourself and others safe this Independence Day.

If you do plan on celebrating the Fourth of July, fire officials are asking you to use caution and follow these safety tips.

“It is important you’re careful about what you do. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, have some firefighting equipment close and ready, that might include a bug sprayer filled with water, a trash can filled with water, and some wet towels, things like that, and avoid tall grass,” said Potter County Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer and Battalion Chief Steven Denny.

Denny said if you can pick an area that isn’t grass.

“You want to pick an area that’s maybe concrete, dirt, gravel, or something like that. You don’t want to shoot them in the grass, and then keep in mind that some of these fireworks go up in the air and then come back down. If they are not completely exhausted when they come back down, the corpse of the firework could also start a fire, so you want to watch where it falls and keep an eye on that as well because it could be several hundred yards away from where you are paying attention to,” said Denny.

Denny said it’s also important not to be drinking while you are setting off fireworks.

“That’s a common injury is being intoxicated while using fireworks. Your inhibitions are down and you do things you probably shouldn’t do,” said Denny.

Captain John Russell with the Amarillo Fire Department added to also follow the age recommendations from the manufacturer.

“Those age recommendations are there for a reason. It’s just like toys. You don’t buy a newborn baby Legos, they’ll choke on them. Just keep the fireworks that the kids are using age-appropriate,” said Russell.

Russell said during the July Fourth holiday, they see more fires than injuries, but he says the injuries can be severe.

“But injuries, you are looking at facial and hand. Either blowing a finger off or the face be burning them…The hand one would be if the fuse was a little shorter than the other one or they light it and they start talking and they forgot they lit it and it goes off. Usually the facial one, it would be the same thing, you go to check on because it didn’t go off, and then all of a sudden it does or again people shooting them at each other,” said Russell.

Russell added from July 3 to July 5, the Amarillo Fire Department is busy with calls, but he said calls will start once fireworks go on sale.

Denny added it is illegal to shoot fireworks from a public right of way, bar ditches, and things like that. Additionally, according to the City of Amarillo, it is illegal to possess, sell, or shoot fireworks within the city limits of Amarillo even on private property and violators can face a fine of up to $2,000.

Denny said if you do start a fire call them immediately, don’t wait. He said a fire can double in size when it is unfought every minute. He said it is better to call them and get them on the way and then call them off if you get the fire taken care of.

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