COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you didn’t set off any fireworks this week, chances are you heard them.
The explosive holiday tradition can be an issue for homeowners.
“Right after the New Year between the hours of 12:30 on Monday morning and 1 am we had a good smattering of calls in terms of things we had to respond to that were firework related,” Mike Desumma said.
Desumma is the public information officer for the Columbia Richland Fire Department.
He says in Columbia two homes were damaged due to fireworks over the holiday weekend but he offers his advice to protect your home.
“We really encourage people to have a plan when they set these off. Have an open area outside with a concrete surface and also have water handy, have a bucket of water handy to put the fireworks out when you’re done, a garden hose too. Just something to make sure you have something to suppress the fireworks when they’re done,” he said.
If something goes wrong while you set off your fireworks, the South Carolina Department of Insurance says homeowners who might experience damage because of legal fireworks should be covered by their insurance.
The agency also says if damages are due to setting off illegal fireworks you might be paying for the damages out of pocket.
“It all comes down to when the firework gets set off, what’s it landing on? and if it lands in a dumpster, if it lands in a garbage can and you don’t know about it, next thing you got those things are on fire and that can sometimes threaten your property,” Desumma said.
South Carolina state law says consumer-grade fireworks are legal to buy year-round but you must be 16 years old to buy them.