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Ruston Pennington checks the stock Wednesday afternoon at the 154 South Fireworks stand. Owner Todd McCoy (not pictured) stressed people should take precautions with their fireworks during the Independence Day holiday. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Local owner stresses caution during celebration
With public firework displays for Independence Day canceled this year, more people may plan to celebrate with their own display at home, and owner Todd McCoy of 154 South Fireworks warned people to be cautious.
“A lot of people tend to press their luck and do things [like holding them] with the artillery shells, the mortar tubes or larger Roman candles that have a ground spike,” he said. “They’re not intended for that.”
McCoy stressed these fireworks are not intended for handheld use, and even fireworks intended to be held should not be pointed at other people. McCoy, who has four children, added parents should also know the maturity level of their kids.
“If parents feel like their kids will keep all the fireworks pointed away from other individuals, then they’re safe to do under supervision,” McCoy said.
In 2019, fireworks caused an estimated 10,000 injuries, according to a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 7,300 of those occurred between June 21 and July 21. McCoy said some firework distributors sell safer products for celebration.
“Some distributors have specific products that are labeled ‘safe and sane,’” McCoy said. “Those types of products have a very limited amount of black powder, so they’re not going to pop.”
Fireworks also pose a fire hazard, and McCoy said a 5-gallon bucket of water or a hose should be kept nearby if the firework stops prematurely. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks were estimated to start 1,900 structures, 500 vehicle fires and 17,100 outside and other fires, causing $105 million in direct property damage.
“If you have an item that says it’s a 16-shot and it only goes 12, it’s not safe to try and relight it,” McCoy said. “They can reignite, so that’s what the bucket is for, to pour some water on them or submerge them.”
For short-term storage, Mc-Coy said an hour inside a car during a shopping trip might not affect fireworks, but in the long-term, he encouraged people keep them “high and dry” and outside of the home.
“It’s best to treat them like a combustible fuel like gasoline or paint cans,” McCoy said. “They can last up to 10 years if they’re kept out of the elements.”