Watauga Volunteer Fire Department sells fireworks, provides tips on safety
Published 4:24 pm Wednesday, July 1, 2020
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Brittnee Nave/Star Photo Fireworks will be available at the Watauga Volunteer Fire Department until July 5.
Brittnee Nave/Star Photo Robert McCarn (left) and John Grindstaff (right) with fireworks at the Watauga Volunteer Fire Department.
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During Independence Day, a time to celebrate freedom and shoot fireworks, please remember to do so safely.
Delisa LaFleur, secretary for the Watauga Volunteer Fire Department, described ways that fireworks can lead to injury.
“Improper is normally what causes injuries with fireworks,” she explained.
While LaFleur said they do not usually get calls of people injuring themselves with fireworks, she said the station, which is also selling fireworks until July 5, goes the extra mile in sharing safety tips.
“We don’t mind spending a little bit of extra time with somebody to explain it,” she said. “We don’t want anybody to get hurt, we want everyone to have fun.”
The bags provided to customers when they come to purchase fireworks also have tips on the back that read as follows:
- Keep a minimum of 40 ft. spectator distance.
- Always purchase your fireworks from reliable sources.
- Follow label instructions and use common sense.
- Always have close adult supervision and never give fireworks to small children.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Use outdoors only in a clear area away from buildings, vehicles and shrubbery. Have water handy.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.
- Wear eye protection and never have any portion of your body over the firework.
- Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks and never attempt to re-light a firework.
- Put ball into tube with flat end down and with fuse extending out of the tube.
- Launch rocket from a tube or rack!
- Light only one firework at a time.
LaFleur said this year has been especially busy, noting she does not believe in running out of fireworks and always orders extra, but worries that this year they might. This is also the biggest fundraiser for the station as all proceeds from firework sales go back into the station.
Those wishing to purchase fireworks must be 16 years of age.
The fire department is open for sales from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. or by appointment at 423-928-4160.
“Always use caution and be sure to use fireworks in the way they were intended to be used,” LaFleur said.
