Discarded Fireworks Caused Cedar Grove Garage Fire: Authorities

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — A fireworks-related flare-up in Cedar Grove summoned police and firefighters to a local home the week before Independence Day, authorities said.

According to the Cedar Grove Police Department, local cops and firefighters arrived at a Rugby Road home around 9:19 p.m. on June 30 to find smoke emanating from the house. Emergency responders soon found that the source of the smoke was a small fire inside the garage, which the homeowner put out with a garden hose.

Cedar Grove detectives investigated the scene and found that discarded pieces of used fireworks had been placed in a box in the garage prior to the conflagration.

“Those pieces reignited, causing the fire,” authorities said.

• See related article: Essex County July 4th Fireworks, Music And More (2018 Guide)
• See related article: What Fireworks Can You Have At Your 4th Of July 2018 Party In NJ?

HOW TO DISPOSE OF FIREWORKS

So how do you safely dispose of fireworks after the big day? According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs:

“When disposing of fireworks, completely soak used or ‘dud’ fireworks in a bucket of water and allow them to soak overnight. Then double wrap the soaked fireworks in plastic wrap or a plastic bag to help keep them from drying out and place the wrapped fireworks in regular household garbage.”

The National Council on Fireworks Safety recommends that people dispose of spent fireworks by “wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.”

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