DES MOINES – The wait to legally shoot off fireworks is now over. But depending where you live, the restriction on time is different. And no matter where you are, you need to make sure to be safe.
It’s no secret that people will be shooting off fireworks on Tuesday now that they’re legal in many cities. But there are some things you need to remember before doing so, like where you can and cannot shoot off fireworks. You can’t do it at any public spaces or public parks, but you can shoot them off in the comfort of your own yard.
“Ideally, it would be on hard surface, cement or dirt, not on dry grass or around combustibles,” said Brian O’Keefe, the spokesman for the Des Moines Fire Department. “You want to take a good look over head, where’s the wind coming from, branches, leaves, wires. We don’t want something shooting up ten feet and then ricocheting back at you.”
Now that fireworks are legal, there are some that are more powerful than sparklers. So, O’Keefe says it is is make sure to take time to read the labels.
“Some of them burn, some of them explode, some of them fly, so you need to know what’s going to happen when you light,” said O’Keefe. “Some have very long burn times, up to two minutes, so if you were to light something that’s a long time whether it’s maintaining control of children or pets.”
If you light a firework and it doesn’t go off, don’t try to pick it up or re-light it. You get get hurt, and the most common type is injuring your hand. So, make sure you’re properly setting off those fireworks.
“They want you to light it from the ground and move away from it,” said O’Keefe. “Don’t light it, drop it. Don’t light it, toss it.”
If you plan on shooting off fireworks on your own property, call your insurance company first to make sure if you have any accident that it will be covered. And if you live in an apartment complex, check with your property manager, to see what their policy is on fireworks. Some won’t let you do it. So, just be checking before you actually shoot off.
