News

Ark. Safety Officials Urge Caution with Fireworks

Stacy Ryburn

07/03/2013

July 03--Fort Smith residents should go to a public fireworks display or a friend's house outside the city limits to enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July, and should always exercise caution, according to local safety officials.

Although both Fort Smith and Van Buren prohibit the sale and use of fireworks within city limits, fireworks are legal outside the city limits in Sebastian and Crawford counties.

Philip Pevehouse with the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office said residents who live in the county should be careful when lighting their own fireworks.

"Usually people have some sense, but of course it's a very dangerous product and there's always a chance of folks getting hurt, unfortunately," he said. "Most of the fireworks will have warnings ... just use common sense. If you're in doubt and you think it might be unsafe, it probably is."

Cpl. Patty Sullivan with the Fort Smith Police Department said a few extra officers will patrol areas within the city.

"Their primary (job) is just to answer the excess fireworks calls, and we get tons of them," she said. "(People who ignite fireworks in the city limits) can face a fine. We'll issue them a citation to appear and it'll be up to the courts on the amount of that fine."

Fire marshal Ronnie Rogers said Fort Smith firefighters will work closely with police officers to catch people lighting fireworks, and residents out in the county should also be aware of dry areas.

"We haven't gotten any rain in the last week or so, and things are starting to dry out. So, stay away from high grass and shoot your fireworks in a low-grass area," he said. "If you're at a friend's house, you might even have a water hose handy just in case. Just be aware that whatever goes up comes down, and just make sure when it comes down it's out."

Fort Smith firefighters will have trucks stationed at the Mayor's Fourth of July Celebration at Harry E. Kelley and Fort Smith River parks at North A Street and Riverfront Drive, and at a fireworks show at Fianna Hills Country Club, Rogers said.

Tim Hearn, Fort Smith EMS director, said his department gets few fireworks-related injury calls this time of year, most likely because of the city's fireworks ban.

"We always encourage people to watch their kids with (fireworks), or that the kids have some form of adult supervision around if they are shooting (fireworks)," he said. "We recommend that you just go to an organized fireworks show."

In a news release, Sparks Regional Medical Center outlined safety tips for anyone attending an event where there are fireworks:

--Never allow children to handle fireworks, including sparklers.

--Stay at a distance from anyone setting off fireworks. Fireworks can backfire or shoot in the wrong direction.

--Don't allow children to pick up fireworks after a show. Some may still be ignited and may explode unexpectedly.

--Don't allow running or horseplay around fireworks.

--Make sure there's a hose or bucket of water nearby to extinguish an accidental fire.

Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock similarly issued warnings in a news release, stating that consumer fireworks, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures of 1,200-1,800 degrees, and that the burn center at the hospital is working to decrease the number of burn victims during the Fourth of July.

Among other precautions, Children's Hospital recommended that a person with a burn injury should pour cool water over the burn within one minute for a child and five minutes for an adult; do not place ice on an affected area, as this can deepen the burn and cause a decrease in body temperature; and for burns larger than the size of a quarter, call 911.