Officials stress firework safety in days leading up to Fourth of July

Officials are reminding Kentuckians to stay safe lighting fireworks as the Fourth of July approaches.

Derek Roberts of the Lexington Fire Department says most injuries relating to fireworks happen the week before and the week after July 4, and that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Lexington and most of the surrounding areas all have fireworks shows,” Roberts said. “And I would say, if you're worried about fireworks. I would say the best thing is to leave it to the professionals.”

Safety tips include staying away from already lit fireworks and not trying to re-light “duds.” It’s also important to have a way to put out fires on hand, like a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water.

Roberts says the safety of children is the number one thing to look out for.

“Over half the injuries that occur, occur in children under the age of five,” Roberts said. “And most of those injuries occur with sparklers. They sometimes burn between 1,200 to 2,000 degrees. So it's something that's very hot. It's easy to get burned.”

Different counties and cities have different regulations when it comes to what fireworks can be used by nonprofessionals. Be sure to check what is and isn’t legal with your local government.

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