HANCOCK COUNTY — The familiar “boom!” of fireworks has already been heard throughout Hancock County, as holiday revelers have started celebrating the Fourth of July early.
As usual, police and health-care experts urge everyone to use caution when handling fireworks.
If possible, they say, leave it to the professionals.
The annual Greenfield fireworks display will take place at Greenfield Central Junior High School, where hundreds typically gather to take in the show sponsored by Dellen Automotive Family.
This year’s display takes to the air after sunset on Sunday, July 4. The public is welcome to park and sit on the school grounds to take in the free show.
On July 10, the annual 4th at Fortville celebration takes place at Landmark Park, at 223 E. Staat St. near downtown Fortville.
The free event, put on by the Fortville Friends of the Parks, promises “the same small-town Fourth feeling you love with some new exciting events,” including a 5K at 8 a.m. and a car show at 10 a.m.
Food trucks and other vendors will be open throughout the day starting at 10 a.m., and live musical acts take the stage starting at 7:45 p.m. The event culminates with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Donald Eicks, an owner with Circle City Pyrotechnics, has one piece word of advice for those who choose to set of fireworks on their own: “Don’t mix it with booze,” he said.
“If you get to drinking and playing with this stuff, it’s going to hurt you,” said Eicks, who oversees more than 70 fireworks displays each year, including the July 4 show in Greenfield.
While fireworks and alcohol are part of many backyard Fourth of July celebrations, the risks are simply too great to set off fireworks, he said, even after just a couple of beers.
Capt. Chuck McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department agrees.
“Alcohol and other substances reduce your ability to think clearly and may also affect balance issues, so you may light a firework and try to take off running and end up falling down,” McMichael said.
He also warned never to let children play with fireworks, and to use caution with sparklers.
“Some people don’t realize those sparklers are extremely hot, and a child may inadvertently touch it and end up with serious burns. They can also wave the sparklers around and light their clothes on fire,” he said.
That’s not to say a backyard fireworks display can’t be done safely. Just read all directions fully and take plenty of precautions, like having a water source on hand and using only a clear area away from people, pets, houses and cars.
Private fireworks are typically only allowed on private property.
“Indiana law prohibits lighting fireworks on any property other than property that is owned by the person lighting the works, or a person who has permission from the property owner to light fireworks on that property,” McMichael said.
Setting off fireworks on city streets and public parking lots, for example, is illegal.
McMichael urges revelers to respect their neighbors and follow state and local ordinances governing what times fireworks can be set off.
“The city of Greenfield follows Indiana law as it relates to fireworks,” he said.
On the Fourth of July, that means fireworks can be set off from 10 a.m. through midnight.
From June 29 through July 3, and from July 5-9, the permitted times are from 5 p.m to two hours past sunset, or about 11:15 p.m.
For most days that are not holidays, the permitted times for fireworks are from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
“Those hours do vary with municipalities. Some of those times are protected by state laws, while some of those are able to be adjusted by local municipalities,” McMichael said.
Above all, “we encourage people to be very responsible and thoughtful when handling fireworks,” he said. “They are explosive materials that should be treated with the utmost respect.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Fourth of July and fireworks go hand in hand, but there are rules to follow when lighting up the sky.
According to the Greenfield Police Department, fireworks can only be shot off during the following hours:
Today (Saturday, July 3): 5 p.m to two hours past sunset, or about 11:15 p.m.
July 4: 10 a.m. until midnight
July 5-9: 5 p.m to two hours past sunset
For most days that are not holidays, the permitted times for fireworks are from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
According to the National Safety Council, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires.
The organization urges fireworks users to follow these best practices:
–Never allow young children to handle fireworks
–Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
–Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
–Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
–Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
–Never light them indoors
–Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
–Never point or throw fireworks at another person
–Light only one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
–Never ignite devices in a container
–Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
–Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
–Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
–Never use illegal fireworks
Source: National Safety Council
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
If you want to catch a fireworks show in Hancock County, there are two options this week and next:
July 4 at dusk
Greenfield Central Junior High School, 1440 N. Franklin St., Greenfield
Dellen Automotive Family will once again sponsor the free Fourth of July fireworks display, where visitors can park and set up chairs on the school grounds.
July 10 at 10 p.m.
Landmark Park, 223 E. Staat St., Fortville
The annual 4th at Fortville celebration caps off with a bang next weekend at at Landmark Park, near downtown Fortville.
The festival and fireworks show is sponsored by Fortville Friends of the Parks.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
