Celebrations at Willow Grove, Mt. Vernon set for the Fourth of July

CLAY COUNTY-Fireworks shows are set to continue to bring people from all over Clay County and beyond together this week.

As Hermitage Springs Fire and Rescue did over the weekend at Hermitage Springs Park during the first local celebration of America’s independence, another pair of community staples of the season will light up the night’s sky here Thursday.

Both the 26th Annual Shake the Lake event at Willow Grove Marina and the Independence Day celebration at the Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Department will feature fireworks displays the night of July 4th.

Hundreds of boats will gather in the waters surrounding the marina to enjoy the show at Willow Grove, which has been held free to the public for over two decades, while others will stick to the land to enjoy fireworks displays and daylong activities at Mt. Vernon Fire Department.

The day’s schedule in the West end of the county includes activities and food beginning at 11 a.m.; a cornhole tournament kicking off at 3 p.m.; a greased pig contest beginning at 6 p.m.; live music being performed; and a fireworks show starting at 9 p.m., with a pitch tournament to follow.

Bouncy water slides for kids and snow cones will also be on site at the fire department.

Similar to the extended festivities at Mt. Vernon, Willow Grove will celebrate on the banks of Dale Hollow Lake throughout the day with live music and more.

No official fireworks shows have been announced to be held in Celina this year, but the city has published their fireworks ordinance on page 3 of this week’s newspaper to remind residents of the laws surrounding pyrotechnics inside the city limits.

Due to the limited number of professional shows available in the area, more people may opt to hold their own, and the National Safety Council advises it is even more important to know that fireworks are not safe in the hands of consumers.

Annually from June 16-July 16, well over 200 people on average visit the emergency room every day with firework-related injuries, mainly to hands, fingers, legs, eyes, and other parts of the head.

A few years back, eight people lost their lives and over 12,000 people were injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents in a single year.

Children ages 10-14 had the highest rate of injury due to fireworks, with more than one-third (36%) of the victims being under 15 years old. While the majority of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade, or other illegal fireworks or explosives, an estimated 1,200 injuries were from less powerful devices, such as small firecrackers and sparklers.

In regards to sparklers, they are much more dangerous than most people may realize. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt some metals. They can also quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers were the cause of nearly half of the total estimated injuries. Additionally, fireworks start an average of 19,500 reported fires each year.

When using consumer fireworks, follow these fireworks safety tips: 

 • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. 

 • Older children should use them only under close adult supervision. 

 • Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol. 

 • Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear. 

 • Never hold lit fireworks in your hands. 

 • Never light them indoors. 

 • Only use them away from people, houses, and flammable material. 

 • Never point or throw fireworks at another person. 

 • Only light one firework at a time, never place any body part directly over a firework device, and maintain a safe distance immediately after lighting. 

 • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers. 

 • Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. 

 • Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire. 

 • Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding. 

 • Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in only brown paper. This is a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could be dangerous in the hands of an amateur.  

 • Never use illegal fireworks. 

 • Keep your distance. Stay at least six feet away from people holding sparklers to avoid injury from sparks. 

 • Stand still. Don’t wave or run with sparklers. 

 • One is enough. Do not bundle sparklers to enhance their effect. 

 • Cover up. Wear closed-toe shoes to avoid injuries from sparks.

Many celebrations can be enjoyed without fireworks. For safer alternatives to fireworks, consider using glow sticks, confetti poppers, silly string, or colored streamers. If you choose to use fireworks, remember to follow the fireworks safety recommendations to decrease risk of injury and to have safer celebrations.

For more information or if you have any questions about fireworks safety, contact Haley Barnes, University of Tennessee Extension Agent in Clay County, at [email protected] or (931) 243-2311.