Salina Fire Department provides safety tips and helpful information for 4th of July weekend

Salina Post

The Salina Fire Department (SFD) has conducted safety tips and helpful information for this upcoming 4th of July weekend. 

Salina Fire Department Fire Inspector/Investigators, Matt Rittel, Chad Scoville and Kansas Fire Marshal Joe Kvacik, put together helpful information over national statistics, safety tips and local city ordinances.

According to Rittel, Scoville and Kvacik, they discovered information from the 'United States Consumer Product Safety Commission' website regarding the past 2024 season. According to their research, there were 14,700 people reported to have been treated in the ER for firework injuries, 11 reported deaths for fireworks across the U.S. Another statistic was that 37% of the reported injuries were burns, 36% of those burns were on the hands and fingers and 22% were on the face.

After their conducted research, SFD accumulated recommended safety tips which include:

1. Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers may look pretty, however they can burn at an excess of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Make sure fireworks that are purchased locally are legal. In Salina, they are required to have the marking 1.4G or 1.4S explosive classifications listed. Also, most say for CONSUMER use. If they say PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY, they should not be sold commercially.
3. Have a water source nearby in case of fire. Soak down the remnants of expended fireworks. This can be a hose or large bucket of water.
4. Light fireworks one at a time, and move back quickly.
5. Never try to re-light or pick up a “dud”. Keep a safe distance to ensure it doesn’t have a delayed ignition.
6. It is illegal to construct and ignite homemade fireworks of any kind.
7. Fireworks and alcohol/drugs DO NOT MIX.
8. It is recommended to soak all debris when the event is over. Keep the debris away from homes. Do not place the debris in trash can the night of, and place trash can against the home. (We have already responded to one trash can incident a few days ago where the debris was discarded into a trash can too early and caught fire).

City ordinances include:

1. Fireworks can ONLY be ignited on the 3rd and 4th of July between the hours of 8:00 am and 11:00 pm.
2. It is illegal for minors to possess and discharge fireworks unless the minor is in the personal presence and under the supervision of an adult.
3. Fireworks cannot be discharged on public property. This includes city streets and cul de sacs.
4. Fireworks can only be discharged on private property with property owner’s consent.
5. Fireworks cannot be discharged into, under, or from a vehicle, whether moving or sitting still.
6. Fireworks cannot be discharged within 100 feet of hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
7. Fireworks cannot be discharged within 300 feet of firework sales.
8. Fireworks cannot be thrown into path of person or group of people, whether on foot, bike, or vehicle.
9. Fireworks must not impact adjoining property from either direct contact from the fireworks or the residue resulting from the use of fireworks.