Officials urge fireworks safety

City fire officials urge safety and common sense when using fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday during this dry and hot climate.

"There are no restrictions on fireworks inside the city, that being said we are stressing residents to be careful when setting off fireworks," said Tucumcari Fire Chief Mike Cherry.

QCS photo: Thomas Garcia

Fire Planet Fireworks manager Roxanne Howard shows two of the larger arial fireworks available at the store located at the old Hamilton Cross Country Ford lot. Arial have not been restricted inside the city limits.

Cherry said the city did not meet the state requirements neccesary to ban aerial fireworks and the holiday falls before the next City Commission meeting to pass a motion to ban ariels.

"We still recomend people attend the public displays and limit their personal use of aerial fireworks," Cherry said.

Cherry said residents should still take in to consideration there are dry area within the city and aerial fireworks are unpredictable when it comes to where they land. He said keep the fireworks on a paved surface avoid setting them off in a grass area.

While fireworks go hand in hand with the Fourth of July, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, released a statement about the need for safety when handeling fireworks this holiday.

"Consumers need to heed our warning: fireworks related incidents, especially those involving illegal fireworks, can be fatal," Tenenbaum said. "Only use legal fireworks and follow CPSC's tips to ensure your holiday remains festive and safe."

Fast facts

The following are safety tips for handeling fireworks: Source cpsc.gov.gov

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.