Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Please use the button below to manage your account.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Please purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
The Burlington Fire Department issued a reminder Tuesday of important fire safety tips for the Fourth of July.
Even legally purchased fireworks pose significant hazards and risks. On average during the Fourth of July holiday period, 180 people a day nationwide go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries. Fireworks-related injuries are painful, and their scars can last a lifetime.
If you do choose to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, obey these simple safety tips:
• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, even including sparklers because they burn at nearly 1,200 degrees and account for over one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries.
• Never try to re-light or pick-up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Keep a bucket of water, a fire extinguisher or a garden hose nearby in case of an accidental fire or other mishap.
In addition to fireworks safety, the Fourth of July is often a time to celebrate by grilling. Numerous fires are started each year by unsafe grilling practices. Please adhere to the following grill safety tips as well:
• Never leave a lit grill unattended. Never leave unsupervised children near a grill.
• Don’t wear loose clothing that may come into contact with the grill and catch fire.
• Never use gasoline as an aide to ignite charcoal briquettes, only use proper charcoal lighting fluid. Use the lighting fluid sparingly and NEVER PUT IT ON AN OPEN FLAME.
• Ensure coals are completely out before disposing of them – use long-handled tongs to remove the coals and immerse them in an empty metal container filled with water.
• Have a fire extinguisher or garden hose connected to a water supply nearby in case of a fire.
• NEVER use a grill on combustible porches, decks, and balconies, or within 10 feet of a structure. This includes grilling on wooden decks.
For more information on fireworks safety, visit the NFPA’s website regarding fireworks safety at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Fireworks or contact the Burlington Fire Department’s Community Risk Reduction Division at 336-229-3133.
