The Crookston Fire Department offers some tips and tricks to keep the public safe and responsible around fireworks during the Independence Day holiday weekend.
One issue that the fire department often sees in firework calls is the use of illegal fireworks. They encourage the public to use common sense and stick to legally obtained fireworks, which are often safer to use while still allowing them to enjoy the holiday. Firefighter Chris Klawitter says, “First and foremost, only use Minnesota legal fireworks, such as sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, and snappers, and there are resources out there if you’re not sure what’s legal in Minnesota. A good indicator is if it’s not sold in Minnesota, it’s probably not legal in Minnesota.”
Other helpful tips include lighting fireworks away from tall grass or anything that could easily catch fire, not relighting duds that don’t go off, and using a bucket of water to properly extinguish and dispose of spent fireworks to avoid any possibility of a stray spark igniting a surface and causing a larger issue. In the event of a fire, whether small or large, call the fire department immediately. In some cases, if a fire can be safely put out with a fire extinguisher, residents can attempt to do so while maintaining their own safety and that of others. “It depends on what the situation is,” said Klawitter. “If you are lighting off fireworks, you should have something handy, whether it’s a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby, and if it is something minor and you’re safe to extinguish it, by all means. If there is any damage or anything that actually started a fire, we would appreciate a phone call. At least we will always come check it out and make sure it is truly extinguished and that there are no other threats. Don’t hesitate to call the fire department for anything like that.”
While the Independence Day holiday is often associated with fireworks and cookouts where the danger of fire is present, the Crookston Fire Department hasn’t seen any significant rise in calls for service over the holiday compared to other weekends. “There are things that happen, and sometimes it’s just the nuisance things of, hey, there’s smoke in the neighborhood, we don’t know where it’s coming from, and then we investigate, and we do find that there were people doing some fireworks, legal or otherwise,” said Klawitter. “There’s long grass where people are down by the river, they’re doing their fireworks, and sometimes sparks get to the places that they shouldn’t, and things do ignite. If there’s anything in question, and there could be something burning, we’ll respond to that. So, no, I don’t think there’s a major increase in our call volume because of that, but it’s just another thing to be aware of as firefighters.”
Consider these tips for a fun and safe experience with fireworks if you choose to view or light any off over the holiday weekend.
