A list of reminders for your Fourth of July festivities

Posted By: BriAna Campbell
bcampbell@klkntv.com

Lincoln Fire and Rescue wants to remind you of ways to have fun, but stay safe, on Independence Day.

"The city has laws and ordinances for a reason, and that’s to keep us all safe when it comes to firework safety," said Firefighter Nic Cunningham.

First and foremost, buy fireworks you know are allowed with Lincoln city limits.

The difference is more important than you’d think.

"When we get fireworks from out of state that may or may not be legal inside of the city limits, they create more explosive and fire hazards than your typical legal ones will," explained Cunningham.

Always be aware of your surroundings when lighting off fireworks, never pointing them at people or properties.

Not all homes are built the same, and some are more flammable than others.

"There are still neighborhoods in the city that have houses with wooden shake shingles and things like that – that’s an extreme fire hazard if flammable materials drop onto those roofs," he said.

LFR says stacking artillery shells in tubes is also something to steer clear of.

"They have a tendency to blow up very close to the ground, and then shoot towards crowds of people, and that can be an extreme danger to both health and fire safety," said Cunningham.

Some other safety tips to keep in mind:

Keep a water source nearby while shooting off fireworks.

Use fireworks within the permitted times.  On July 4th, that’s 8 a.m. to midnight.

If you do sustain a firework related injury, St. Elizabeth’s is a burn center, you can head there or call 911 if you’re unable to transport yourself. 

LFR transported 28 people to the hospital last year with firework related injuries.

This year, they’d like that number to be smaller. 

The City of Lincoln also wants to remind you to clean up your firework wrappings and tubes, and dowse all fireworks with water before throwing them away.

Also, remember: firework tubes and cardboard are not recyclable.