by MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
As the Fourth of July draws nearer, firework stands are beginning to spring up all across Glasgow.
With the festivities that accompany Independence Day celebrations also comes the danger posed by improper usage of fireworks, William Rock, fire chief of the Glasgow Fire Department, said. Therefore, he said, it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations instituted by the city concerning their use.
All of the firework regulations spring from city ordinance 2905 passed in 2017 and signed into law by former Glasgow Mayor Dick Doty, Rock said.
All the firework stands that pop up around this time, he said, are inspected by the Assistant Chief Aaron Moulders to ensure they are selling fireworks that are for consumers, marked with a “C,” Rock said.
According to the ordinance the “free days,” as Rock calls them, are June 28 through July 3 and July 5 from noon until 10 p.m. and July 4 from noon until 11 p.m. These days do not require people to get a permit from the fire department.
“If you’re going to shoot fireworks anytime other than those free times you have to come and get a permit from us,” Rock said.
In order to get a permit people must ask the department 15 days prior to the firework display, Rock said. This is done for a variety of reasons including planning and letting the proper departments know.
“We try to let dispatch know because you get a bunch of calls, police are called because people hear loud noises,” Rock said. “They don’t know if they’re gunshots. Next thing you know police roll up to a vacation Bible school.”
Ashley Jones, a captain at the Glasgow Police Department, confirmed that although she wasn’t sure of the exact number of calls, there was an increase during that week period.
“I am not sure on the exact number of calls for that time period, but we do experience an increase in people calling about fireworks during that time period,” Jones said. “The calls usually occur late at night when the fireworks ordinance time has lapsed.”
Among the most vulnerable during firework celebrations, Rock said, are animals and veterans.
“People coming back from the Armed Services that have been in hostile environments — I’m not saying all of them — but sometimes it’s a little unnerving to hear a lot of fireworks going off,” Rock said. “If you know a Vet, let them know you’re going to shoot fireworks off.”
Unlike last year, with the month’s customary dryness, Rock said he felt Glasgow was in good shape heading into the Fourth.
“A lot of times in July we have a very dry spell but it looks like we’re on track to be fine for the Fourth of July,” Rock said. “We’re in pretty good shape right now with all the rain that’s been coming.”
Rock said, the steps a person should take when using fireworks, like having a water hose or extinguisher nearby and staying at least 35 feet away after lighting, may seem like a headache for some people, but they are in place to help people have safe fun.
“Headaches are precautions that save us in the long run,” Rock said.
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