Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Resulting blaze already reported in county Friday.
Local fire officials are asking residents to be cautious, exercise good judgment when setting off fireworks to prevent wild and structure fires.
“We know everyone is excited about the Fourth of July, we just ask that people use some common sense,” said John Hinze, District 1 fire chief.
Hinze said there has already been one fire in the county as a result of fireworks. He said on Friday firefighters responded to the report of a grass fire at a residence on State Highway 104 north of Tucumcari.
“It was fortunate that police officers arrived on the scene ahead of units and began dousing the fire with water,” Hinze said.
Hinze said there was no structure damage from the fire. However, if conditions had been different the fire could have taken off quickly. He said there are some restrictions in place with certain types of aerial fireworks being prohibited. It just takes one spark to get caught by the wind and go where you didn’t expect, Hinze added.
According to the statistics of a 2017 National Fire Protection Association report: Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.
Hinze said residents should take precautions when setting off fireworks, always have a source of water available, avoid high brush areas and be mindful of dangerous weather conditions like high winds.
“It will not take much to start a fire,” said Donald Adams, Quay County Fire Marshal.
Adams said currently there is no burn ban in county, but the rural fire chiefs are engaged in a discussion about the need to issue a ban. He said even though a restriction has limited aerial fireworks there are some that could still cause a problem.
“There is a potential for fire danger with fireworks when good judgment isn’t used,” Adams said.
Hinze said along with fire danger there is a potential for physical injury to yourself or others if fireworks are misused. He said people should always follow the directions, safety guidelines when setting off fireworks.
A consumer product safety commissions annual report showed in 2015, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,900 people for fireworks related injuries. Of those injuries 51 percent were to the extremities and 41 percent were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for one-quarter (26 percent) of the estimated 2015 injuries.
Source: The National Council on Fireworks Safety.
• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
• A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.