Local first responders demonstrate firework safety ahead of 4th of July

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the country celebrates its independence this weekend, local fire crews hope the sky is the only thing being lit up.

While fireworks look festive, first responders said it's important to know what it'll do and how to set it off safely. Many legal fireworks have a QR code that can be scanned and will take you to a demonstration video showing what the firework looks like once it's been lit.

For first responders, the 4th of July is one of the busiest nights of their biggest nights of the year.

"These fireworks can be dangerous and deadly, as you say, because a lot of people think that just because they buy them at a fireworks stand, that they're safe to use," Capt. Carey Hirtzel, with the Peewee Valley Fire Department, said.

To show just how dangerous fireworks can be, firefighters from Peewee Valley set off a range of fireworks Thursday in a controlled environment to illustrate what can happen if safety steps are skipped.

"If you get some of the commercial grade fireworks, like the Zamnbelli fireworks, if you were to happen to get some of those, they have fuses that are instantaneous," said Hirtzel. "As soon as you put a match to it, they light and they're gone."

The Peewee Valley police and fire chiefs recorded a PSA recently to serve as a warning to the public about safety issues and concerns.

Meanwhile, firefighters said to only light one firework at a time and be aware of any duds.

"You don't want to try to relight something that has gone out," Hirtzel said.

If you've been drinking, don't drive. Call a friend, use a ride-sharing service or stay put.

"There's multiple ones you can pick from, because ours is the last one you want to use. Because we only go to one place," Steve Healey, Peewee Valley Police Department chief, said.

Healey said officers across the area will be on the lookout this weekend for impaired drivers. He also issued a warning about a popular but illegal form of celebration.

"Do not shoot guns into the air," he said. "Because those bullets, when they go up, they equally come back down."

Firefighters also said a little water goes a long way in keeping the fun from turning into a fire. It can also mean the difference between a night of fun and a trip to the emergency room.

To look at WDRB's complete guide to fireworks and events around Kentuckiana to celebrate the holiday, click here or on the link below.