One year around the Fourth of July, Columbus Fire and Rescue received 12 calls in one day due to fireworks incidents alone.
Most of those types of calls are for grass fires and damaged property, said CFR Public Relations and Education Officer Anthony Colom. But he knows of people — including children — whose hands or eyes get burned because they’re not being careful enough about setting off fireworks.
“Kids can get burned by playing with matches, or they get too close to a firework and it just goes off,” he said.
Ordinances in both Columbus and Starkville prohibit individuals from setting off fireworks within city limits. In Starkville, fire department officials generally ask people who are using fireworks in the city to go into the county and shoot them. Failing that, the fireworks can be confiscated.
But both departments are prepared to respond to fireworks-related incidents this week.
“We haven’t had any calls about fireworks this year, knock on wood,” said Starkville Fire Marshall Mark McCurdy. “But we encourage people to watch the firework show that’s done by the professionals instead of getting into a situation where whatever they spent their money on gets confiscated.”
Those ordinances aren’t just in place for the good of property, both Colom and McCurdy told The Dispatch. They’re also for residents’ own good, to prevent burns and other injuries.
McCurdy added that parents should be especially cautious when letting children play with sparklers, a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting colored flames.
“I don’t know if people get this, but sparklers generate heat of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,” he said. “So we always warn people about that, especially when it comes to their kids. … And if you still want to set off fireworks, just use common sense, don’t fire them off while drunk and try to do it near a body of water. Most times, things happen when people stop being smart about it.”
Ultimately, Colom said he would suggest not setting of fireworks at all.
“Let the professionals shoot them off,” he said. “Then stay away from fireworks all together.”
Pet safety
Fireworks affect more than people and property. Every time Jason Nickles sees Fourth of July fireworks displays in Lowndes County, he knows what he can expect at work the next day.
By now, Nickles, who has managed the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society for almost 14 years, knows the cacophony of sound will cause cats and dogs kept outside to go on the run, leaving dozens of panicked pet owners calling CLHS the next morning, hoping someone will have turned in their four-legged friend.
“The biggest thing I always tell people is make sure their pets are collared and chipped,” he said. “Because someone probably will find your pet and bring it to us and then we can return him to you.”
As the holiday comes closer, Nickles and his fellow employees at the CLHS are constantly reminding pet owners to keep cats and dogs inside during fireworks shows. Even if pets live in the city, where fireworks are banned, animals’ sensitive hearing can still pick up the sounds, he said.
“It’s not usually that big a deal for (pets housed at CLHS) because we’re in the city,” he said. “But any time there’s fireworks, you’ll usually hear about people losing their animals. … If they’re outside, they’ll jump a fence or tunnel under it because they’re scared and need to get away. They’ll freak out so bad and jump the fence and then they’re gone.”
If you have an anxious pet, Nickles said putting them in a room with the door closed and the TV or radio on can help drown out the noise. For hyperactive or extremely stressed animals, wrapping them in a blanket and holding them for the duration of the fireworks display can soothe them. But sometimes, he said, a visit to the veterinarian the afternoon before is in order.
“Some people go as far as to go to the vet and get something to sedate or relax them,” he said. “It depends on what kind of animal you have. Like dogs, the ones that are afraid of thunder and storms are going to be the ones that are afraid during fireworks. But some animals like hunting dogs aren’t afraid at all. If you know your animal, you’ll be able to make the best choices for them.”
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