Milton Urges Public To Be Safe, Courteous As July 4 Approaches

MILTON, GA — As July 4 approaches, it's understandable that people want to see fireworks. But before setting anything off, the City of Milton urges residents to think first about doing it legally, safely, and courteously to our human and animal neighbors.

The city has a new web page featuring information on fireworks-related rules and ordinances, as well as explanations and tips regarding animal safety. This information is particularly important this year considering that many neighboring cities have canceled their traditional July 4 festivities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That has led to concerns that more people will light their own fireworks the wrong way and at the wrong times - potentially catching sensitive animals and people off-guard, as well as leading to greater fire dangers.

In Milton, loud fireworks can only be set off (unless special permission is granted) on select days. Those are July 3 and 4, Labor Day, New Year's Eve and the weekend around Memorial Day. At all other times, the city prohibits "loud and unreasonable noise" (defined as above 55 decibels) that fireworks often produce.

Why? A major reason is safety. Every year in the United States, fireworks spark an estimated 19,500 fires, cause about $105 million in property damage. More than 9,000 people - 36 percent of whom, in 2018, were under age 15 - annually end up in U.S. hospital emergency rooms with fireworks-related injuries, over one-third of which involved damage to eyes and other parts of the head.

Experts strongly recommend that people use federal government-approved fireworks, wear protective eye wear, keep fireworks away from children and anyone who has been drinking and/or using drugs, and light just one at a time. Furthermore, fireworks shouldn't be ignited near a house, trees, dry grass or other flammable material. And spent, unused or not fully extinguished fireworks should be soaked in water for a few hours before discarding them.

Notably, fireworks-related issues extend beyond fires and direct injuries, especially in Milton. Sudden, thundering sounds can be scarring and dangerous for military veterans with PTSD and sensitive animals.

In Milton, home to an extensive equestrian community, horses are of special concern since they have a natural "flight" (vs. fight) reaction and may start running wildly if fireworks go off. When they do, horses can get hurt slamming into trees, going through or over fences, or having medial issues from extreme stress. Such reactions not only endanger the animals, but also property and humans (considering horses can be strong and weigh up to 2,000 pounds) trying to control them.

Milton Equestrian Committee member Susan Kimball explains why fireworks can be dangerous to horses. The most important thing that good neighbors can do, as Kimball explains, is to tell anyone nearby with horses, sensitive dogs or cats or veterans before they set off fireworks. A little advance notice can go a long, long way in keeping everyone safe, as there are things people can do to protect themselves and their animals if they know there will be fireworks.