The Fourth of July is right around the corner! If you haven’t been able to stop by our new location and pick up your complimentary flag, there’s still time. We still have about 12 flags available – hurry over and pick one up so we can get yours flying in time to celebrate the Fourth!
By the way, if you’re like me and enjoy getting together with family and friends to set off fireworks, remember this — what goes up must eventually come down. And in my experience, not everything that goes up comes down in the place you planned.
As we approach the Fourth and dream of sparklers, fire crackers, bottle rockets, and Roman Candles, a question we hear a lot this time of year is this: If I invite my family and friends over for fireworks and end up causing damage to someone’s property, who’s responsible? In almost every case, the answer is simple — everyone who participated.
But before you think hitting your neighbor’s roof or siding or car with fireworks is the worst thing, think again. The most significant risk leading to injuries and claims on the Fourth of July is the improper disposal of the fireworks. So, do yourself a favor and keep a bucket of water handy to help cool off those fireworks.
Let’s think about this. What do most people do?
After a great night of fun and fireworks, people typically clean everything up and throw their garbage into trash bags. Then they take those same trash bags and drop them into their big green garbage bins. And where are those kept? Well, if you’re anything like me and most of my neighbors, those oversized trash bins are kept inside the garage, right next to my car.
Well … suppose some of those exploded fireworks are still even slightly warm or hot or smoldering. If they are, it’s possible to find yourself waking up to the smell of smoke or a full-blown fire. Not good!
So do yourself a favor and have a bucket of water on standby. Before throwing anything away, soak your fireworks (even the fully exploded ones) to ensure your house is safe at night’s end. You could even push your trash bin to the end of the driveway and let it sit overnight, safely distanced from your home.
Stay safe, have a wonderful Fourth, and God bless America!
