Firefighters Stress Firework Safety

ZANESVILLE, OH – As the 4th of July gets closer, fireworks are getting ready to light up the night sky. But before you let the celebrations spark, firefighters say a little safety can go a long way.

With temperatures soaring and little to no rain in the forecast, firefighters say dry grass and brush can catch fire quickly from a single spark. They remind everyone to keep fireworks away from dry areas and have a bucket of water or a hose nearby just in case.

“Right now, we want everybody to keep in mind the severity of, we’ll call it a ‘drought’ that’s going on right now with these temperatures. All of the grass is dry, and all of the trees are dry. So please be careful when you’re out setting off these fireworks. They’re going to land somewhere.” Assistant Fire Chief, Doug Hobson said.

Sparklers may be a holiday favorite, but they’re no small spark. Sparklers can burn at temperatures of nearly 2,000 degrees, that’s hot enough to cause serious burns. Fire officials say firework-related injuries do happen, so children should also be closely supervised and never handle fireworks without an adult. The best way to enjoy the holiday is to keep safety at the center of your celebration.

“I would say we do have a lot of burns when it comes to sparklers. In my career, we’ve actually had a mortar tube tip over and unfortunately a young lady was struck in the stomach and had to be taken to Columbus for the removal of just a piece of debris from the mortar.” Assistant Chief, Hobson said.

If you’re involved in any firework accidents that include fire or injury, don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately.