Safety is key to celebrating with fireworks on New Year’s Eve, expert says

Before you start setting off fireworks to celebrate New Year’s Eve, it’s a smart idea to go over the ways you plan to stay safe while doing so.

That’s the advice from Jacksonville Association of Firefighters President Randy Wyse. He says most fireworks are actually illegal but there are plenty of ways to get them, and a lot of times people make mistakes when they use them.

“I’ve actually experienced several fires where people had thrown old fireworks and old sparklers in a garbage can and they weren’t actually out,” Wyse says. “The garbage can was up against the house and lit the house on fire.”

He says it’s usually a bad idea to mix alcohol and fireworks because when things go wrong it’s important to make the right decisions.

You’ll also want a bucket of water close by so you can throw anything in to make sure the spark is completely out. It’s a good idea to clear any debris from the area so it won’t catch fire, and Wyse says having a hose nearby is a good idea in case you need to extinguish flames.

Of course, if things get out of control, Wyse says you need to call 911 right away. First responders are working through the night, and they will be there to get the situation under control if a fire starts to spread.