Happy 4th of July

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🎆 Happy 4th of July from the New Holland Fire Department! 🇺🇸

​Happy Independence Day, New Holland! 🎉

​Whether you are firing up the grill, heading out to a parade, or getting ready for a professional fireworks show, all of us at the New Holland Fire Department want to wish you and your families a fantastic and fun-filled holiday.

​Days like today are a great reminder of how proud we are to serve and protect such a wonderful community. 🚒❤️

​🛑 A Quick Safety Refresher

​While we want everyone to have an amazing time celebrating, our top priority is always your safety. If you plan on setting off consumer fireworks at home today, please remember our Big Three Rules:

• ​Never relight a dud. 🚫🔥
• ​Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby. 🧯💦
• ​Only light one firework at a time. 🏃💨

​(Check out our [recent post on full Firework Safety Guidelines] for more details on keeping your family safe!)

​🐶 Don't Forget the Furry Friends! 🐱

​While we love the bright flashes and loud booms, our pets usually don't. More pets go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year.

​Please remember to keep your pets safely secured indoors in a quiet, comfortable room during the evening hours. Make sure their collars are on and their ID tags are up to date just in case they get spooked and slip out.

​🎇 Enjoy the Show!

​We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating our nation's independence with your friends, family, and neighbors. Eat some great food, make some wonderful memories, and leave the big explosions to the professionals if you can! 🍔🌭

​Stay safe, New Holland!

​🚨 As always, we are on call 24/7. If you experience a firework emergency or a fire breaks out, do not wait—call 911 immediately. 🚨

Firework Safety

🎆 Keeping Our Community Safe: Firework Safety Tips 🎆

​As we get closer to the summer celebrations, the excitement is building here in New Holland! 🎉 While we all love a great party, the New Holland Fire Department wants to make sure our community stays safe, happy, and injury-free.

​Every year, fireworks lead to thousands of painful injuries and preventable fires. The good news? A little bit of planning and common sense can keep your family safe. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

​Here is what you need to know before you light up the night! ✨

​🛑 The "Big Three" Rules of Firework Safety

​If you remember nothing else from this post, keep these three golden rules in mind:

• ​A Misfire is a Dead Stop: Never, under any circumstances, try to re-light or pick up a "dud" firework that didn't go off. Wait at least 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water. 🚫🔥
• ​Water on Standby: Always keep a garden hose or a large bucket of water nearby. You want to be able to extinguish a small flare-up instantly, and you need a place to dump spent fireworks. 🧯💦
• ​One at a Time: Only light one firework at a time, and quickly move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting the fuse. 🏃💨

​🦺 Sparklers: Cuter, But Just as Dangerous

​It’s easy to think of sparklers as harmless fun for the kids, but they actually account for a massive percentage of injuries every year.

​Did you know? Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 1,200°F (648°C). That is hot enough to melt glass and cause severe, deep burns in a split second! 🌡️⚠️

​If you let children use sparklers, make sure they are closely supervised, standing far apart, and dropping the hot metal rods straight into a bucket of water the moment they finish burning. 🪣

​📋 Your Pre-Show Safety Checklist

​Before you start your neighborhood show, walk through this quick checklist to ensure your setup is safe:

1. ​Clear the Area: Make sure you are setting up on a flat, hard, non-flammable surface (like a concrete driveway) far away from dry grass, houses, overhanging trees, and vehicles. 🏡🌳
2. ​Protect the Kids: Designate a "spectator zone" that is a safe distance away from the launch pad. Children should never be allowed to ignite fireworks. 👦👧
3. ​Soak 'Em Down: Once a firework is finished, don't just toss it in the trash can. Submerge all used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight before throwing them away to prevent a garbage fire. 🗑️💧
4. ​Think of the Pets: The loud bangs and bright flashes can be incredibly terrifying for our furry friends. Keep your pets indoors in a secure, quiet room to prevent them from panicking and running away. 🐶🐱

​🎟️ Leave the Big Shows to the Pros

​The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to gather your lawn chairs and head out to a professional public display. Let the trained experts handle the explosives while you kick back and enjoy the view! 🎆🙌

​From all of us at the New Holland Fire Department, have a fantastic, proud, and safe summer celebration! 🚒❤️

​🚨 If you experience a firework emergency or a fire breaks out, do not wait—call 911 immediately. 🚨