YORK COUNTY, Pennsylvania — July Fourth is this Thursday, meaning fireworks will soon light up the skies and firework stores are seeing lots of sales ahead of the holiday.
Phantom Fireworks of Shrewsbury in Hopewell Township, York County told FOX43 they've already seen a lot of customers come in in the last two days.
Jessi Dragoiu, a vice president of Phantom Fireworks, shared they've been bringing in several trucks to ensure the shelves stay full for everyone.
"When the customers are in here, they're really excited because they're buying something to amplify their celebration and we're really lucky to get to be a part of that," Dragoiu said.
And with all of these customers buying fireworks, safety is a top priority.
"The Fourth of July is America's favorite holiday, and we just want to keep it that way, so we want to make sure everybody enjoys it but enjoys it safely, and the best way to do that is to follow all of the safety tips we have," Dragoiu said.
SAFETY GUIDELINES PHANTOM EMPHASIZES:
- Children should never handle fireworks.
- Do not mix fireworks with alcohol.
- Follow the local laws.
- Purchase your fireworks from reliable, licensed sources.
- Always keep a water source nearby just in case anything was to go awry.
- Read all directions, cautions, labels and warnings on each individual firework item to understand the product performance and hazards associated with it.
- Light fireworks on a hard, flat and level surface to ensure the stability of the items. If needed, bury or brace the item.
- Always light your fireworks in a clear, open area away from buildings, vehicles and shrubbery. A minimum clear radius of 30 feet for fountains and other ground-based items and 150 feet for any aerial product is recommended.
- Never attempt to relight, alter or fix any “dud” firework item.
- NEVER USE THE FIREWORKS FOR A “FIRE FIGHT:” Never aim, point or throw any fireworks at another person or at any property.
- Lastly, use common sense.
According to Pennsylvania law, a person must be least 18 years of age in order to purchase, possess and use consumer fireworks.
In addition to preparing for the holiday, Phantom Fireworks also presented a $5,000 check to Eureka Volunteer Fire Company. These funds come from their "round-up" campaign, where customers round their transactions up to the nearest dollar.
Ira Walker, a past chief of Eureka Volunteer Fire, accepted the funds on behalf of the department.
"Volunteer fire departments require a lot of money, obviously, for the things we spend money on—our gear, which to equip one firefighter it could be $5,000, insurance, our insurance premium every year is $50,000. That's why firefighters have to have these fundraisers...so this will go into our general fund," Walker said.