Independence Day is over, but that doesn’t mean that fireworks safety should lapse. If you’re like many people and families across California and the rest of the country, you have your hands full cleaning up spent and unlit fireworks. To make sure you’re doing so safely, you might look to the tips contained in a new report out of Rhode Island. The advice was provided by that state’s Fire Marshal.
The first thing you should do is see to the proper cleanup of fireworks that were never lit or didn’t go off. Get in touch with firefighting officials in your area if you’re concerned about safe cleanup.
When it comes to the cleanup of debris, it’s best to ensure that you won’t have any unexpected surprises. Once you’ve collected the spent fireworks with a shovel, dump them in a large bucket that has been filled with water. Instead of immediately removing the various leavings, let them set for an hour or two. When you can be sure that the water has done its job, dump the contents into the trash.
One place you shouldn’t place used fireworks is in the recycling bin. True, some fireworks may be made of recyclable materials like cardboard, but people at recycling centers may have to go through whatever comes in. There might still be traces of gunpowder and other flammable or chemical substances, and thus putting even spent fireworks in a recycling bin is inadvisable due to the injury risk posed.