A Sunday afternoon rain shower that splashed parts of the Chattanooga area brought a welcome reprieve from recent dry weather, but it may not have washed away the potentially explosive combination of a parched landscape and Fourth of July fireworks.
Rain is expected to more thoroughly douse the area this week, but in the mean time, officials recommended taking caution with fireworks after an unusually dry June.
Chattanooga received just 1.22 inches of rain last month, 2.83 inches below its June average of 4.05 inches, according to National Weather Service data.
"Take proper safety cautions," Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman William Jackson said. "Don't light any and then walk away from them. If you get a dud, pour water on it. Keep water close by and follow the instructions."
Jackson said that, as of Sunday afternoon, CFD had not responded to any calls involving fireworks during the holiday weekend.
"And we'd like to keep it that way," he said.
Fireworks sales are expected to reach a record $800 million nationally this year, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, and area fireworks shops were packed with customers and seasonal employees this weekend.
People filled the aisles at Phantom Fireworks of East Ridge on Sunday afternoon, choosing fireworks for their July 4 festivities.
"They have a lot to choose from," Chickamauga, Ga., resident Coley Lamb said before she and Dillan Harris loaded their car with two bags worth of goodies.
"We got basically everything, Roman candles and stuff that will make the sky look pretty," Harris said, adding that the canvas for their personal fireworks show would be "a typical backyard with a water hose ready."
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office spokesman Matt Lea suggested in a news release that fireworks users keep their pets, especially dogs, in a quiet part of the home to prevent unnecessary nervousness or discomfort. The website petfinder.com says more pets get lost on July 4 than any other day of the year because they're terrified of the percussive booms of exploding fireworks.
Lea also repeated common-sense safety tips to help everyone have a safe and enjoyable Fourth.
"Please use fireworks correctly and do not aim fireworks near crowds, homes or businesses," he wrote. "If you are going to use fireworks, please remember to have a water source and/or a fire extinguisher available should a fire occur."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
