Happy 4th of July! We hope you’ll spend the day with family and friends, enjoying God’s good gifts and remembering our independence as a nation. When celebrating Independence Day this year, it is important to consider the safety of yourself and others.

Fireworks may pose a serious safety threat this year, said Fire Cheif Scruggs, due to excessively dry conditions. “We’re flirting with banning fireworks,” he said. “It’s dry; we were busy all day yesterday running calls till 12 o’clock last night. It’s just dry. It’s a guarded situation right now; we’re watching it day to day.

“We’re in drought conditions statewide, and it’s just so hot out, so that makes it worse. We’re just asking everybody to be super careful this year. And if we issue some sort of a ban, we’ll get it out throught the media.”

The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers the following tips for the safe use of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday:

• Use fireworks outdoors only.

• Always have water hand. (A hose or bucket).

• Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.

• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should war safety glasses.

• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated shooter.”

• Only person over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.

• Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you!

• Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.

Local laws on the use of fireworks:

• In the city of Lafayette, fireworks may only be sold from 8 AM-11PM June 10-July 5.

• Fireworks may only be discharged July 3-5. The discharge of fireworks within the city limits is not allowed between the hours of 11 PM and 7 AM on those days.

• Person or companies must discharge fireworks on their own property or on property on which the owner has given permission for the discharge of fireworks.

• In the city of Red Boiling Springs, it is against the law to sell any fireworks within the corporate limits of Red Boiling Springs.

• Fireworks may not be discharged between the hours of 11 PM and 7 AM.

Please note, a ban on burning was just issued. To Whom it May Concern: Due to the lack of measurable precipitation along with unusually high temperatures over the last few days, conditions across our area have become very dangerous to the spread of uncontrolled fires. The emergency services are already receiving higher call volumes related to this weather event. We feel in the best interest of our community and our citizens, as well as our emergency workers, we should ban any open burning of any kind in Macon County. This includes the Cities of Lafayette and Red Boiling Springs. This ban will prohibit any open burning of any type until the conditions have changed such that the dangers of uncontrolled wild fires no longer exist. This ban does not include the sale and use of fireworks during the fourth of July period, but we would strongly discourage the use of such devices unless precautions have been made to hamper the start or spread of an uncontrolled fire. Citations for reckless endangerment will be issued to any person found to be in contempt of this order. This ban is to begin immediately, this being 2 pm 7/3/2012 and shall remain in effect until conditions warrant removal. Keith Scruggs, Director, Macon County EMA Shelvy Linville, Macon County Mayor Richard Driver, City of Lafayette Mayor Bobby Etheridge, City of Red Boiling Springs Mayor