Wednesday, July 2, 2025
www.thepapersonline.com
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties
Know Your Neighbor . . . . . 2➤ Kosciusko County Fair . . 8-11
Vol. 55, No. 1
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
ACCIDENT PREVENTION — Jeremy Williams, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory’s Fire Marshal, right, chats with Tom Richard, left, an employee at Speed Rockets Fireworks in Warsaw about fireworks safety.
Fireworks safety is of utmost importance July 4 Text and Photos By PHOEBE MUTHART Editor Each Fourth of July, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks . Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks of devastating burns, other injuries, fires and even death . Every year, before the Fourth of July, doctors and firefighters warn about the dangers of fireworks . And every year, the number of fireworks injuries grows . The U .S . Consumer Product Safety Commission wants to change that . In the past 15 years, fireworks-related injuries increased 25%, the CPSC stated in a new report . At least nine people died
in accidents involving fireworks, and 11,500 people made emergency room visits because of firework injuries last year, according to CPSC . In addition to bodily harm, property damage from fireworks is also a major problem . The National Fire Protection Association’s data said fireworks caused nearly 20,000 fires in 2018 . Local fire departments reported nearly 2,000 of the fires were structure fires, 500 were vehicle fires, and 17,000 were outside and other places . Jeremy Williams, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory’s Fire Marshal, said the department has responded to many fireworks accidents and injuries and even fires caused by fireworks . Williams said the most common causes of incidents are people drinking alcohol, the
READY TO RESPOND — Matt Koldyke, a firefighter with Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, is ready to respond if a fireworks emergency, such as a fire or injury, should occur July 4.
READY TO GO — Cody Metzger, a Warsaw firefighter, prepares to get ready to go to a fire in the event of a fireworks’ emergency.
heat and people using poor judgment . Twenty eight percent of fires are started by fireworks on July 4 . “Alcohol and fireworks don’t go together, he said . “Children under 18 should be supervised by an adult .” He said Indiana has laws regarding fireworks, which are very important to follow . “Laws are meant for a reason,” Williams said . He said the most common fireworks injuries are to the hands, especially from sparklers . Williams advice is to closely follow the directions on the fireworks’ packages . He said while attending professional fireworks, do not be in the “fallout zone .” This is where fireworks debris falls to the ground . At home, pay close attention when setting off fireworks . “Know your surroundings,” he said, adding especially when setting them
off at home . “Know your wind directions, too .” He also said paper lanterns that light up are very dangerous as they can fall and ignite a fire, therefore he advises against them . He advises setting off legal fireworks in a larger area, not in a residential neighborhood . “Never re-light a dud, either,” he said . “Have a water source and a hose nearby and follow burn bans in your county .”
Visit in .gov/ai/dhs/burnban . pdf to see local burn bans . “Last summer we had a lot,” he said of burn bans . Do not shoot off fireworks in heat and humid conditions, Williams advised . Also, know the rules for when you can set off fireworks, which in Warsaw is from 9 a .m . to 11 p .m . For more fireworks safety tips, visit in .gov/dhs/ get-prepared/fire-safety/fireworks-safety or nfpa .org .
Early deadline The Kosciusko edition of ‘the PAPER’ will observe an early deadline for the issue of July 9 . All news copy, display advertising and classified advertising must be in the Warsaw,
Syracuse or Milford office by 1 p .m . Thursday, July 3 . All offices of The Papers will be closed Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day . The offices will reopen Monday, July 7 .