With the Fourth of July approaching, fire officials are reminding citizens to be careful with fireworks.
According to the National Fire Protection Association’s June 2016 fireworks report, fireworks caused an estimated 15,600 reported fires in 2013. Of those, 1,400 were structure fires, 200 were vehicle fires and 14,000 were outside or other fires.
Fireworks caused nearly half of all fires reported on the Fourth of July in 2009-2013, according to the report.
In 2014, an estimated 10,500 people received treatment in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to NFPA.
Personal fireworks usage is prohibited inside Starkville and Columbus city limits.
“We let everybody know that the use of fireworks in the city limits is illegal,” said Columbus Fire and Rescue Public Relations and Education Officer Anthony Colom. “Unless it’s some kind of professional fireworks exhibit like Fireworks on the Water, it’s not allowed. Leave it to the professionals, especially with it being so dry.”
Starkville Fire Marshal Mark McCurdy agreed.
“Starkville itself has been lacking on decent rain,” he said. “We are very cautious, especially this year, because we haven’t had a whole lot of rain. We are pushing for people not to shoot fireworks, especially in the city.”
There are no ordinances prohibiting fireworks outside city limits in Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties.
Oktibbeha County Fire Services Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan said to wear protection, including glasses and long sleeves or pants to minimize exposure.
“If a firework misfires or doesn’t go off, treat it with respect because it’s still loaded,” Rosenhan said. “You may not see any smoke or anything coming off of it, but it’s still liable to go off. The best thing to do there is leave it alone, then douse it in a bucket of water and pick it up with tongs or something to make sure it won’t go off. Treat it with respect, just like a loaded gun.”
Rosenhan said to try to keep fireworks away from structures and to avoid pointing them at other people.
Lowndes County Fire Services Coordinator Sammy Fondren said secondary fires from falling embers are a main threat for fireworks.
Fondren also said to be wary with sparklers, especially if young children are using them. He said sparklers can be deceptively hot.
NFPA reported that sparklers caused 28 percent of fireworks injuries in 2014. The total is the most among any type of fireworks injury.
“A lot of people don’t realize that there are probably more injuries from things like sparklers than explosive injuries,” Fondren said. “Kids hold them all the time but they’re incredibly hot and can give second- or third-degree burns.”
Highway patrol
The American Automobile Association predicts 43 million Americans will travel during the holiday weekend, citing low gas prices combined with low prices for hotel rooms and airfare.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol will also be out in full force for the July 4 weekend, starting at 6 p.m. Friday, according to a press release from MHP.
From Friday night to Monday at midnight, troopers will be cruising the state’s highways to proactively prevent crashes and impaired driving. Off duty officers will work overtime throughout the weekend to make up for the shortage of manpower.
Last year during the holiday weekend, MPH investigated 138 crashes, including two fatalities, throughout the state. State troopers also wrote over 4,000 citations and made 125 DUI arrests, according to the press release. This year the troopers will be highly visible on the roads.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.