Firework safety tips for the Fourth of July [Video]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – With Independence Day just around the corner, people in the Black Hills and surrounding areas are stockpiling fireworks to light up the skies. While it’s a fun annual activity, Fourth of July fireworks are explosives and should be treated with caution.

Areas around Rapid City often feature tall grasses, which tend to burn quickly. Lighting fireworks in these grasses can start fires that spread quickly, it is safer to light fireworks on concrete.

If you have a stockpile of fireworks, smoking near them can be hazardous. Embers from cigarettes may seem harmless, but if they land on a fuse, they can set off fireworks prematurely.

Airborne fireworks should be set up to launch straight up into the air, launching them at an angle could cause them to ignite nearby buildings or vehicles. Holding onto these fireworks can also cause burns and even the loss of …