Tips on fireworks safety offered

Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department personnel have recommendations from the fire marshal’s office on how to handle fireworks safely.

Tips on fireworks safety include:

• Always purchase consumer fireworks from a reliable and legitimate source.

• Always read and follow label instructions.

• Have an adult supervise all fireworks activities.

• Never look into or put your head, face, or any other body part over the top of a firework.

This results in some of the most common and serious injuries.

• Always ignite fireworks outdoors.

• Have water nearby.

• Only light one firework at a time.

• Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.

• Never attempt to relight a malfunctioning firework.

• Never throw fireworks at another person.

• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.

• Dispose of fireworks properly

Each year the Fire Investigations Unit reports several structure fires that are caused by improper disposal of fireworks, according to the Fire Department. The cause of these fires are determined to be disposal of spent fireworks, that are still smoldering, that have been thrown into a dumpster, trash can, or left in a trash bag on a porch or near a structure.

These are just a few of the safety suggestion recommended by the Fire Marshal’s office.

Last year there were no serious reports of injuries from legal consumer-grade fireworks in Kansas City, Kansas, according to the Fire Department. The three serious injuries that were reported in Kansas City, Kansas, last year were from illegally constructed fireworks, the Fire Department spokesman stated.

The Fourth of July fireworks season in Kansas City, Kansas, can be a safe one if those purchasing and using consumer-grade fireworks follow the basic safety measures when discharging fireworks, the spokesman said.

Public fireworks displays

There are public displays scheduled for the 2017 fireworks season in KCK.

The Turner Recreation Commission has a public display on Monday, July 3, at Pierson Park at South 55th and Douglas. It is scheduled to start about 9:45 p.m.

Sporting Kansas City will have a fireworks display on July 6 approximately 30 minutes after the end of the soccer game. The match starts at 7:30 p.m.

Rules for discharging fireworks

The Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department included these rules for discharging fireworks:

• Fireworks may only be discharged between July 2 and July 4 and only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

• No fireworks shall be discharged within 1,000 feet of any hospital, sanitarium, infirmary, or home for the aged.

• No fireworks shall be discharged into, under, or on a car or vehicle, whether it is moving or stationary.

• No person shall discharge any fireworks within 150 feet of a retail fireworks stand or facility where fireworks are stored.

• No fireworks shall be thrown, placed, ignited, or discharged on any sidewalk, street, or alley.

• No fireworks shall be ignited or discharged in any building.

• No person shall throw or place any fireworks in any assembly or gathering of persons.

• The sale of fireworks runs from June 29 through July 4. The hours of sales on those days are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.