Firework safety tips as drought continues across Twin Cities region
TWIN CITIES - Despite the rain we received last weekend and the chances of rain over the coming days, including on the 4th of July, the entire Twin Cities region still finds itself under some form of dry conditions, ranging from abnormally dry off to the southwest to up Severe drought on the far northern reaches of the region.
According to the Minnesota State Fire Marshall, last year, fireworks led to 11 injuries, one fatality, and 80 separate fireworks incidents caused over $758,000 in property damages. Some have already begun their festivities and celebrations, with several reports of fireworks and fires being reported across parts of the Metro over the past week. Across the State of Minnesota, exploding or aerial fireworks are illegal, but we know there will still be various backyard shows across the region over the coming days. In the hopes we can hopefully help prevent some fires or your show from becoming another statistic, we would like to share some recommendations for anyone who might still want to bend the rules in the coming days.
If you are planning to do your own backyard firework show, light them away from trees and houses. Fire officials also recommend wetting any dry vegetation and the ground around the area where you will be lighting fireworks, and keeping the garden hose nearby if possible. In addition to the fire hose, it is recommended to have a few extra buckets of water nearby, with one that you can use to put used or dud (failed fireworks) in. Never try to reignite a firework that was a dud.
Designated "Fire Fighter"
If you're planning to do your own backyard show, one thing that is recommended is having at least one person who is sober be designated as the "Fire Fighter." This person's sole job will be to keep an eye on any sparks and to make sure no fires are started. If one is started, their job is to immediately put the fire out with a fire hose, fire extinguisher, or buckets of water if they are able to.
Officials would also like to remind everyone, that they should never ignite fireworks out of a container, like a bottle of can. For a full list of fireworks that are legal and illegal in the State of Minnesota, you can go here.
