For the Reporter
As Independence Day celebrations near, the cities of Algona, Auburn and Pacific, along with the Valley Regional Fire Authority, encourage everyone to adopt safe fireworks practices to help prevent fires and injuries.
Attending a public fireworks display is a great alternative to discharging your own fireworks. Go to www.wsp.wa.gov for a statewide list of fireworks displays and celebrations.
If you decide to use fireworks, the following tips may help prevent injuries and fires:
• Know and follow the fireworks laws in the area you will be discharging them. The cities of Auburn and Pacific only allow discharge of legal fireworks between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 4. Algona allows discharge on July 3 from noon to 11 p.m., July 4 from noon to 11:59 p.m., and July 5 from midnight to 2 a.m.
Go to www.vrfa.org for more information on Algona, Auburn and Pacific fireworks regulations, including what fireworks are legal. Auburn has an additional resource at www.auburn.gov/fireworks.
• Read and follow all fireworks manufacturer instructions and safety recommendations. Choose a safe area to discharge them.
• Only adults should discharge fireworks. Keep children and other observers well back from the discharge area. Consider that Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 1,200 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
• Trim any tall grass close to buildings or fences. Clean all gutters and the roof. Move all burnable items away from homes. One stray firework can easily ignite shrubbery or other combustibles.
• Keep garden hoses ready to wet down the discharge area and extinguish small fires. Have a bucket of water to place discharged fireworks in before disposal.
• Light one item at a time and move away quickly. Maintain a safe distance from fireworks display area.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• Do not approach or try to re-light “duds.” Wait several minutes before disposing in a bucket of water.
