Dry grass and high temps have Clarksville officials worried about fireworks safety

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The city is urging residents to be careful with fireworks during the upcoming holiday weekend in Clarksville.

“With recent record-setting temperatures, and rainfall below average for the month of June, City of Clarksville officials are encouraging the public to use an abundance of caution,” Ryan Sample, spokesman for Clarksville Parks and Recreation, said in a news release.

“According to Weather.com, Clarksville is trending above the historical high-temperature average of 87 degrees Fahrenheit for the month of June and saw a high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit on two separate days last week,” he said. “In addition, Clarksville has only seen 1.06 inches of precipitation through the month of June while the historical monthly average for precipitation is 4.65 inches.”

Fire Chief Freddie Montgomery Jr. said the conditions can be hazardous. “We are always emphasizing the dangers of fireworks, but particularly this year with the extreme weather we’ve seen this month,” Montgomery said in the release.

Last year’s damage

Last year, from June 20 to July 5, Clarksville Fire Rescue had seven confirmed firework-related service calls, with three more calls suspected to be caused by fireworks.

There were four trash bin fires caused by igniting or improperly discarding fireworks, two fires in vegetation, and one fire involving a house, the release stated. This led to total estimated property loss of over $375,000 and an additional $200,000 in content loss.

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Rios told Clarksville Now that the house fire elevated the cost of last year’s estimated damages.

“The family stored their (used) fireworks next to the house. They thought (the fireworks) were out, but the inside was still smoldering. They set the fireworks in a box next to the house and left it, so no one was there when the house caught fire,” he said.

Rios said there are a lot of dangers when it comes to fireworks, and precautions are important. “You have to be aware of your surroundings,” he said. “You should have a bucket of water, a charged fire hose, and a fire extinguisher.”

Rios said he prefers to leave fireworks up to the professionals. “We have a show at Liberty Park,” he said. Clarksville Fire and Rescue will be there on standby. “We (hose) down the area and make sure it’s safe,” he said.

Rules on fireworks and cars, teenagers, parks

In Clarksville, fireworks may be exploded, fired, shot or set off inside the city limits from July 1 to July 5 between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Except for city-conducted or sponsored events, it is unlawful for any person, organization, group, or entity to possess, use, explode, fire, shoot or set off any type of fireworks from within any city park, recreational facility or property.

It’s also unlawful for any person under 16 to use, explode or possess fireworks within the city limits unless they are under the direct supervision of an adult, and it is unlawful to explode or ignite fireworks within 600 feet of any church, hospital, asylum, public school, or within 200 feet of where fireworks are stored, sold or offered for sale.

Additionally, no person may ignite or discharge fireworks within or throw any articles of fireworks from a motor vehicle or throw any ignited article of fireworks into or at a motor vehicle, or at or near any person or group of people.

Sky lanterns are also prohibited, and can only be used by those who hold a professional license.

Scott Beaubien, Clarksville Police spokesman, told Clarksville Now that misdemeanor citations will be issued to anyone caught breaking the rules.

“Liberty Park is where the fireworks display is this year, ” he said. “You will be able to see it all down the river.”

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