North Charleston FD: Make Fourth of July a Holiday, Not a Hazard

The North Charleston Fire Department wants to share some tips to celebrate July 4th with safety in mind.

“You cannot take safety for granted when it comes to fireworks,” State Fire Marshal Jonathan Jones said. “We want everyone to have fun, but safety precautions must come first.”

Start with observing local fireworks laws. The City of North Charleston fireworks ordinance allows fireworks discharge from 9 am to 11:30 pm throughout the year. Hours are extended for the July 4th holiday, from 9 am to 1 am on July 5th.

Other notes:

• Discharging fireworks from a vehicle is prohibited
• Discharging fireworks on land without consent is prohibited
• Discharging fireworks towards any structure, animal, or person is prohibited and very dangerous

Here are some tips for using fireworks:

• Identify a “fireworks zone” with markers that is a safe distance away from structures, people, and animals
• Read and follow the directions on each firework
• Always have a responsible adult designated as the “firework lighter”
• Light one firework at a time
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Keep a water bucket or hose nearby in case of fire
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

Here are some other ideas for celebrating the Fourth of July:

• Use glow sticks, confetti poppers, or colored streamers instead of sparklers
• Red, white, and blue silly string is fun for all ages
• Make the fourth a birthday party for America – don’t forget the cake!

For additional fire safety information, follow North Charleston Fire Department on the NorthCharleston.org website, Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor, and Instagram.

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