Another Independence Day has come and gone, having brought the annual rush to roadside fireworks tents and stores. Many are clustered just across the border in South Carolina. That had listener Elizabeth Ermis wondering: Why is the state such a popular destination for fireworks shoppers?
Thomas Raper, with the state fire marshal’s association, says the draw is aerial fireworks — which are sold in South Carolina but banned here because: “Anything that leaves the ground and becomes a projectile has a tendency of creating fires, whether it be in a wooded area, a grassy area, in a structure, rooftops, decks," he says. "Basically, causing fires where we don't need fires to occur.”
People who violate the ban can face fines and be held liable for any injuries tied to their use. But Raper says some people still aren’t deterred.
“I've been in the fire service for a total of 27 years," he says. "Every year we seem to either experience injuries or fires here in our area from those types of fireworks.”
And he says this year's Fourth of July was a particularly rough one for fire crews. Still, there are ways to reduce risks. Raper says stick to fireworks that stay on the ground, and if you get a dud: “Number one: don't go pick it up. Do not look into the tube," he says. "Give it a substantial amount of time just to sit there."
The next step is to submerge the dud in water. More safety tips, and information about which fireworks are legal in North Carolina, can be found on the state fire marshal’s website.