Tuscaloosa officials share safety tips for a risk-free Fourth of July

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Tuscaloosa fire and law enforcement officials have some advice for residents: Leave the fireworks to the professionals and put your guns away.

Fireworks are illegal within the Tuscaloosa city limits, but where fireworks are permitted, residents people should use caution to avoid burns or other injuries. And celebratory gunfire, often associated with Independence Day, can also result in injuries or even death and criminal charges against those who fire the weapons.

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"Fourth of July is always a fun time for friends and family to be together. But it's important to remember that fireworks are illegal within the Tuscaloosa city limits. And then for anyone in an area where fireworks are permitted, we want to stress the importance of using them safely," said Holly Whigham, fire and life educator for Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue and Rescue.

More than 19,000 reported fires are started by fireworks annually across the United States. And burns from those fireworks account for 44% of the injuries treated in the emergency room seen around July 4. Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of ER firework injuries, Whigham said.

"There's a lot of people that think sparklers are safe to give their children, but sparklers burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. So just to put that into perspective, glass melts at 900 degrees. So that just shows you how dangerous they can be in the hands of children. And we want to stress the importance of using those safely and not letting children have those," Whigham said.

She also offered some tips for safely using fireworks.

"You only want to light one firework at a time. You never want to relight a dud. If you have a dud ,soak them in water, throw them away. Never give fireworks to small children. Store them in a cool dry place away from children and pets. And then always keep a portable fire extinguisher close by as well as a water hose or bucket of water," Whigham said.

Sgt. Josh Hastings of Tuscaloosa County Sherriff's Office said celebratory gunfire is also a major concern on the Fourth of July.

Typically as the night progresses on the Fourth of July, officers are consumed with calls from people who aren’t sure if they’re hearing fireworks or gunshots, Hastings said.

"When you're dealing with firearms, what goes up has to come down. So the concern is where's it coming down at?" he said.

Hastings said officers will respond to calls concerning suspected gun fire to ensure everyone's safety.

When it comes to fireworks, he said that in order to avoid injuries, people should never shoot fireworks in the direction of a person, vehicle or property.

"We want people to go out and have a good time and enjoy themselves, but we want them to do it safely. And I think with anything with fireworks, if you use common sense, you know, you'll be able to have a good time not worry about hurting yourself or hurting somebody else," said Hastings.

Whigham said the Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue team encourages everyone to leave the fireworks to the pros.

One way residents can enjoy a safe holiday is by attending the free Celebration on the River event at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, where the professionals will handle the fireworks display.

Set for 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater at 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, this free, family-friendly event is open to the public and will include music performed by the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, kids’ activities and fireworks.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Fireworks, celebratory gunfire pose risks on Fourth of July