Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – There’s no shortage of fireworks tents all over Beckley in anticipation of July 4th.
If you plan to purchase any — you must know how to properly and safely handle the sparklers.
Beckley Fire Station One shared its best fireworks practices.
“If you are going to be setting off fireworks, find you a nice, clear, open space away from buildings, away from other residents, away from vehicles,” said Probationary Fireman Christopher Francisco. “And you want to avoid anything flammable like brush or propane or anything like that as well.”
Read fireworks instructions before setting them off, how to properly handle them, and what they are capable of doing.
“It’s not difficult to light up a firework and not realize it’s gonna to shoot 30 feet in the air nowadays, or more, and let off showers and sparks,” Francisco said. “If you are letting off fireworks, keep children away from them. Don’t let them set it off themselves. The wicks can burn you. You never know what’s going to happen if it’s a faulty firework.”
If you light the firework and it doesn’t go off, do not attempt to approach and relight it. The probationary fireman says it’s a bad idea. Instead, wait 10-20 minutes, soak it with water, and dispose of properly.
“We see burns all the time from people lighting fireworks, even just from the wicks,” said Francisco. “A lot of these wicks, they spurt off real quick. “Get you a grill lighter with a long nose. Avoid the little injuries and mistakes that begin.”
With the excitement of the holiday, people can get reckless.
“If you are letting off fireworks, do not hold them or point them at anything unless the firework is specifically designed to be held like a sparkler,” Francisco said. “Even then, keep it away from the body. Don’t put it anywhere near other people or anything flammable.”
According to the probationary fireman, the safest thing you can do is just leave it to the professionals.
