With the recent law change in Iowa allowing residents to shoot off fireworks for the 4th of July holiday, Perry Fire Chief Grason Hill dishes advice on how to remain safe.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 303 into law, which prohibits counties and cities from regulating fireworks on July 3rd between 9am and 10pm, and then on July 4th from 9am to 11pm. Hill tells Raccoon Valley Radio people buying fireworks shouldn’t underestimate how powerful they are. He recommends that people stay at least 100 to 150 feet away from fireworks, whether you’re a spectator or shooting them off yourself. 

Hill stresses that people need to keep fireworks away from children, or even sparklers, as they can easily burn a younger individual if they don’t grab it properly. He says that people who are intoxicated should not handle fireworks, as Hill goes on to list additional safety measures.

“Anyone using fireworks should wear protective eyewear. That’s always a safe thing to do, never light it indoors, only use them away from people, homes and flammable materials, never ignite a device in a container, never re-light a malfunctioning firework. And you always want to have a pail of water (or) a hose handy.”

Hill advises people to be extremely careful if they are shooting fireworks off in a residential area, and discourages against pointing fireworks at a neighbor’s house. He also suggests not to shoot fireworks towards a dry field or anywhere else flammable materials may be. Hill describes that animals are usually afraid of all the noise as well as people who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and that others need to take that into consideration.