City of Grand Rapids offers fireworks safety tips

Photo Credit: City of Grand Rapids

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) With the Fourth of July weekend on the horizon the City of Grand Rapids is urging residents to use caution when lighting fireworks at home. 

Ric Dokter, the Fire Marshall for the Grand Rapids Fire Department Prevention Division, says children should never be allowed to play with or ignite fireworks. 

If you are going to light fireworks it is important to make sure that others are not in close range when doing it. 

Fireworks should only be lit on a smooth flat surface away from homes, dry leaves, and flammable materials. 

Dokter also says that you should never light a firework while holding it in your hand.

Another tip: don't try to light fireworks that didn't function the first time. 

Dokter says even a "DUD" can reignite and cause injuries.  

“Our goal every year is to promote fireworks safety to ensure that not a single family in Grand Rapids suffers the pain and sorrow of a fireworks injury,” said Dokter. 

The Grand Rapids Fireworks ordinance allows consumer grade fireworks to be lit from June 29th to July 4th between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. 

It is against state law to light fireworks on a public street, sidewalk, park, church, school, or public right of way.