We all want to enjoy the sights and sounds of our nation’s independence holiday.
So that means backyard barbecues, lawn games – and, especially, fireworks. Some people prefer to check out the larger displays put on by cities and towns all over the state, while others like to stay home, avoid the crowds and traffic, and light off their own fireworks collection.
And that’s okay. There are all kinds of cool fireworks you can buy and set off legally under New Hampshire law, but as we always like to say at the Insider, safety first. Because every year, you hear of some horrible accident involving fireworks (see Jason Pierre-Paul’s hand) and most likely, those individuals were not taking the proper safety precautions.
So while fireworks are fun, colorful and great to look at, err on the side of caution. You only have 10 fingers and last we checked, each one serves a purpose.
In an effort to get all the safety info out there, we caught up Concord fire Chief Dan Andrus last week to get the lowdown of what will keep you from making a mad dash to the emergency room.
While it is legal to light off fireworks in Concord, Andrus would prefer if you went to the city display at Memorial Field on July 4. It’s going to be a lot of fun (check out all the details on page 13), but if you must put together your own show, here are some helpful safety tips.
Keep away from children: No matter how harmless and cute they look, any firework in the hands of a child is a recipe for disaster. That’s why you have to be 21 years old to buy them. Those sparklers you see kids running around with every year can get up to 1,200 degrees, which last time we checked is really hot.
Where to light: You are only allowed to display fireworks on property you own or where you have permission from the land owner. So don’t go sneaking off to your neighbor’s backyard or a local park to pull off your show.
Don’t drink: Sure, having a couple of cold adult beverages is nice at a holiday gathering, but if you plan to put lighter to wick, stay off the sauce.
Keep a safe distance: If you’re just there to enjoy the display, give yourself some space in case anything does go wrong. They’re fireworks, you can see them from miles away.
Lighting: Wear eye protection, always follow the safety directions on the fireworks package and never put any part of your body over a firework you’re about to light. And if it goes out, don’t try to relight it. Common sense things, but it’s still important to remind you of them.
Weather: Keep an eye of wind conditions. You don’t want to catch your neighbors garage on fire.
Water: Whether it’s in a bucket or coming from your garden hose, make sure you keep a supply close to properly douse the firework after its done amazing you. This isn’t the time to be banking on a sudden rain storm. A fire extinguisher will do the trick too.
Regulations: Before lighting any fireworks, make sure you check out the state regulations at nh.gov/ safety/divisions/firesafety/special-operations/fireworks.
