Safety Tips for Shooting Fireworks

Fourth of July celebrations have already begun for some people, but those planning to shoot fireworks today or tomorrow, should remember to be safe in doing so.

Stephens County Fire Services Coordinator Jamey Gettys advises people to keep a bucket of water on hand when shooting fireworks.

“Always have a bucket of water nearby in case you get a dud or something that doesn’t go off, you can throw it in that bucket and let it soak up the water and that would render it useless and wouldn’t hurt anyone,” said Gettys. “We had some rain come in, so that should help with the wildfires, but they do need to be careful with the fires that can be caused from fireworks.”

He also notes that kids with sparklers can also result in dangerous consequences.

“They seem like the most harmless thing, but they burn at about 2,000 degrees so they can catch their clothes on fire and burn them pretty good,” said Gettys.

Gettys said that another mistake people make when shooting fireworks is doing so after consuming alcohol.

“Folks should really be careful using fireworks and alcohol together,” said Gettys. “A lot of reports show that alcohol while using fireworks gets people hurt.”

If you are shooting fireworks and something goes wrong, Gettys said to contact 911 because it’s better to be safe than sorry.