Update:
This story was originally published in 2019.
What time are fireworks at your house? Might want to check if it’s legal first
Health and safety officials recommend checking whether firecrackers are legal in your area and taking precautions to ensure a safe 4th of July.
A fine, a lost pet or a visit to the emergency room — things you might not think about when you’re setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July.
To avoid these scenarios, health and safety officials recommend checking if it’s legal to set off fireworks in your area, and if so, taking precautions to ensure a safe holiday.
In most cities, people must be at least 5,000 feet from city limits to set off fireworks in Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall and Tarrant counties without legal penalties. For example, setting off fireworks in Dallas could result in a fine of up to $2,000. Last year, Dallas police confiscated 8,600 pounds of fireworks.
Fireworks are generally legal on residential property in unincorporated areas, but there's still a list of things to check off before putting on a show.
There are no burn bans in North Texas this year thanks to the extra rain, but fireworks could still ignite grass and structures, said Kaufman County Deputy Fire Marshal Mat Ewaskiw.
Keep the crowd small if you don't have a license, insurance and a permit. Setting off fireworks in front of more than 50 people without those documents can result in arrest, said Kaufman County Fire Marshal Randy Richards.
"Be considerate of your neighbors, the environment and not only your pets, but also your neighbor's pets," Richards said.
Safety first
The most troublesome items are usually the ones that appear harmless, such as sparklers and lanterns, said Terry Barriere, who has been selling fireworks for seven years.
Lanterns "are an uncontrolled flame," he said. "If you set something like that off, you need to be in a place where it's appropriate — where there's not a fire hazard like dead trees or a forest or dry grass."
As for sparklers, Barriere prefers to stick them in a patch of dirt and let his 4-year-old daughter, Lily, watch from a distance, instead of giving her one to hold.
“You need to make sure that kids understand,” Barriere said. “It’s like a hot stove or a power tool or anything else. They have a purpose, they have an intended use, but they also do pose some hazard.”
Following the instructions on the label can help prevent most injuries, Barriere said.
Last year, emergency rooms around the country treated about 5,600 fireworks-related injuries in the month around the Fourth of July, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 44% of those injuries were burns.
At least 40 people have been admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital's burn center over the last five years for injuries caused by fireworks.
While all the precautions may seem excessive, Barriere said, they're necessary for a successful holiday.
"Fireworks are supposed to be something for the whole family," he said. "The Fourth of July is something that is very unique to America, and it's something we need to celebrate but we need to do it safely."
Traumatic for vets, pets
Fireworks can be more than just dangerous — they can also be traumatic to people, including veterans, and to pets.
For veterans, the sound of fireworks can recall gunfire and can lead to an episode of PTSD.
Some veterans install yard signs asking neighbors to set off pyrotechnics somewhere else.
For some animals, the pop of fireworks can have the same effect as the sound of gunfire for humans, said Monica Fann, a Kaufman veterinarian.
“They can have a little panic attack,” she said. “It can be any breed, dogs or cats. Sometimes it’s just what affects them if they have a tendency to be nervous.”
She suggests spraying over-the-counter calming pheromones for pets, playing classical music to soothe them and making sure their microchip information is up to date.
"Even if they're not usual runners, they can be skittish, and that's when they run," Fann said.
If you find a lost pet, take it to the animal shelter, said Ed Jamison, the director of Dallas Animal Services.
"It's not on the Fourth of July, but the days after when we see an uptick," Jamison said. In the week surrounding the holiday last year, the shelter took in 800 animals.
Safety tips
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Fire Protection Association offer the following safety tips:
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
- Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.
- Never light them indoors.
- Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material.
- Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.
- Never ignite devices in a container.
- Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
- Soak unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire.
