Marshall Mecham
Artesia Daily Press
marshallmecham21@gmail.com

Eddy County stresses fireworks safety ahead of Fourth of July

Manager Manón Arnett of Amy’s Fireworks says safety is crucial for customers looking to celebrate this Fourth of July.

Arnett’s mother, Amy Arnett, started the business in 1981, and the Artesia shop at 1615 N. 1st St. offers a variety of fireworks to Artesia revelers. There are also locations in Roswell and Carlsbad.

With each purchase, Arnett said, the customer receives a list of safety tips that advises users to avoid igniting fireworks indoors, to light just one device at a time, to have water handy in case of fire and to dispose of the materials safely even after they are used.

“We sell really cool fireworks that are legal, tested and meet state standards for safety,” Arnett said. “Nearly every safe product is unsafe if you use it incorrectly, and nobody wants that.”

June was national Fireworks Safety Month, organized to deliver information about fireworks safety ahead of Fourth of July when many Americans use fireworks to celebrate the nation’s 1776 Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

Fireworks have caused an estimated 9,700 injuries in the U.S. each year since 2019, according to a July 4, 2024, report from usnews.com. Between 2008 and 2023, the U.S. saw an average of 9.9 deaths per year due to fireworks, the report read.

Jarod Zuniga, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal at Eddy County Fire & Rescue, has 22 years of experience dealing with fireworks and said safety awareness is crucial.

“It is super important, both for safety of people and of property,” Zuniga said. “Every year, we have calls for people being injured.”

“I was in law enforcement … a bomb technician, so I’ve got experience with explosives and trained for safety in that,” Zuniga said. “Every year, we end up with some minor injuries, and I’ve worked several major injuries where people have lost parts of hands.”

In addition to the dangers associated with igniting fireworks, Zuniga said, users should be mindful of the debris that comes back to the ground, which can be flammable.

“The people not understanding is a challenge,” Zuniga said. “Many people believe that when the firework shoot goes up that it is consumed … and don’t think about what’s going to come back down. While a good portion of the powder is consumed, that cardboard and packing still comes down.”

Lt. Andrew Swanson of the Carlsbad Police Department, said fireworks can impact pets as well as people.

“Pets will flee and become lost to their families … what may seem like a celebration to you may be a burden on others,” he said.

Swanson said fireworks pose a special danger to children and Independence Day partiers who might be impaired by alcohol.

“Never allow children to handle fireworks,” Swanson said. “Never handle fireworks under the influence of alcohol or drugs, wear protective eyewear, never reignite a dud, have water nearby and soak any malfunctioned (firework) in water. Light one firework at a time. Obey the law.”