With many Fourth of July firework displays canceled this year due to COVID-19, local leaders are urging their communities to be safe and take precautions this holiday weekend if handling fireworks.

Chatham County Fire Marshal Billy Judson shared a message with his community this week, saying there’s concern that there might be more personal use of fireworks this year due to the canceled government-sponsored displays.

“We want all Chatham County residents to have a fun and safe Fourth of July, but fireworks are dangerous to both adults and children if not handled properly,” said Judson in a release. “We know the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to visit public fireworks displays conducted by trained professionals. If you are going to purchase and partake in consumer fireworks, a few simple precautions can prevent you or your loved ones from becoming [a] statistic.”

Vence Harris, the Fire Chief for the Chapel Hill Fire Department, shared similar fire safety concerns recently when speaking with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck. He said it will be important Chapel Hill residents are mindful of where they shoot off legal fireworks, especially after a week of little rain.

“Pay attention to your surroundings and conditions,” said Harris. “Make sure the area is not too dry as you’re doing things that create flames and sparks. We want people to pay close attention and have good awareness of their surroundings as they enjoy their holiday.”

The Fire Chief also encouraged for parents to be safe even when handling small Fourth of July items like sparklers.

“Please pay close attention to your kids when they’re handling things like sparklers and stuff like that,” he said. “Some of the leading causes of injuries doing Fourth of July celebrations are those small-scale pyrotechnics like sparklers because they can burn in excess of 2,000 degrees and really do some damage to kids.”

In addition to safety with fireworks, Harris also urged Chapel Hill residents to be cautious when grilling and to keep public health guidelines in mind.

“With a lot of Fourth of July festivities being canceled by COVID-19, we’re expecting a lot more backyard cookouts and celebrations by people,” he said. “Hopefully [they’ll be] in smaller numbers adhering to social distancing all the rules put out by the Governor’s office.”

Photo via Wes Tilghman.

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