Safely—And Legally—Celebrate the Fourth of July in Apple Valley

Fourth of July weekend is a great time to celebrate your patriotism, but Apple Valley residents also should make sure their celebrating is safe and follows state and city laws and ordinances.

Apple Valley Fire Chief Nealon Thompson said Minnesota law prohibits individuals from using fireworks that project into the air, such as Roman candles or aerial fireworks. The types of fireworks that are allowed stay near the ground, he said—things like sparklers, twizzlers, snakes and ground-effect fireworks.

In Apple Valley, residents can only use fireworks between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., Thompson said, with the exception of the Fourth of July itself, when those legal fireworks are allowed until midnight.

Residents should also be aware that they must keep their fireworks on their own property, Thompson said, and not use them on any public street or piece or property.

He also said anyone under 18 should only use fireworks and sparklers with an adult present. Each year, the fire department does see a few cases of injuries because of consumer fireworks; even the tip of a sparkler burns at 2,000 degree Fahrenheit and can cause burns, he siad.

The fire department does see some grass fires related to residents' Fourth of July fireworks use each year, but there haven't been any structure fires, he said; it's important to stay 50 to 100 feet from structures with fireworks.

If a firework is a dud, leave it sit and don't approach it for 15 minutes in case it does end up igniting, Thompson said. Then, submerge it in a bucket of water for between 20 and 30 minutes.

Grilling

Fourth of July weekend also is the most popular weekend of the year for grilling. Keep grills 10 feet away from structures and other items, including deck railings and fences, Thompson said, and don't grill in the garage.

For charcoal grills, let the charcoal cool overnight when you're done grilling, and make sure they're out before you throw them out—dousing them in water can help, Thompson said.

And don't throw them away in a paper bag; Thompson said he's seen fires start 24 and 48 hours after coals have been disposed because they were still hot when thrown away.

Thompson said he'd ask people to pause and think about safety during their activities this weekend. He also recommended seeing the fireworks show in Apple Valley, which is run by professionals.