For many families in the area and across the country, fireworks are a big part of New Year’s festivities.
However, if used carelessly, fireworks can be dangerous to people and property. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires annually at an average of $43 million in direct property damage. In 2016, 11 injuries and four deaths resulting from fireworks were reported.
Starkville Fire Marshal Stein McMullen said fireworks are illegal within the Starkville city limits. However, he added incidents are rare in the area.
“There are usually a few that don’t know the law, and they’ll shoot a few, and once they find out, they stop,” McMullen said. McMullen said he had no major problem with fireworks as long as they were used safely and legally.
He suggested shooting fireworks in an open area away from dry vegetation or other flammable material.
“Make sure that kids are not the ones doing it, because holding them in the hand can be dangerous,” McMullen said. “You can lose a hand, fingers and stuff like that. They’re known to start fires in brush and trees, things of that nature.”
McMullen also said it was wise to shoot fireworks out over a body of water if one was available.
Oktibbeha County fire services coordinator Kirk Rosenhan said fireworks were legal in the county, but urged citizens to be cautious given recent weather conditions.
“Given the dryness of everything and a little wind, we would ask that people be super-safe shooting fireworks,” Rosenhan said. “In fact, several years ago, I had a bottle rocket set fire to a house. It got in the pine straw that was in the gutters, and it nearly burned that thing down.”
Rosenhan also recommended wearing safety goggles, gloves and long-sleeve shirts to shoot fireworks, and having a bucket of water on hand to submerge “duds” in.
“It may not go off now, but five minutes from now it would,” Rosenhan said.
He said to treat any firework like a loaded gun.
“Even a little sparkler will burn at up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,” Rosenhan said
He said county firefighters would be ready to respond should any firework-related incident happen.
“Always make sure you know where you’re shooting and where it ends up,” Rosenhan said.