It's the Fourth of July. A celebration of our nation's independence. Barbecues, baseball and fireworks. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the baseball. But be careful with the fireworks, especially in your car. Transporting and keeping fireworks in your car can become a dangerous situation.
In June 2004, a man in Melbourne, Fla., was killed when fireworks exploded in the back of his car. The man and his friend, who was critically injured, were lighting fireworks in their car and throwing them out the window.
I probably don't need to tell you that lighting fire crackers in your car is a bad idea. If you're reading the paper, you are probably smart enough to know that already. But, even keeping fireworks in your car can be dangerous.
In July 2010, a man in St. Petersburg, Fla., was badly burned when fireworks accidentally ignited in his car. The car's sunroof and back window were blown out and the car went up in flames. Authorities said that somehow used fireworks set off some unused ones in the back seat of the car.
The ignition point for recreational fireworks is 450 degrees and while Atlanta heat can certainly turn a car into an oven, the temps will never reach that level. But fireworks stored in a hot vehicle can start to deteriorate and become less stable.
If you are looking for a place to store fireworks you want to find a cool, dry place away from the reach of children. Not your car.
When it comes to lighting fireworks you shouldn't light them on your car or near your car. It might seem like the roof of your car would be a great "stage" to set off your own fireworks display. It isn't. Don't do it. Imagine the conversation you'd have with your insurance company if something went wrong. I have a feeling the phrase "claim denied" would be what you'd hear.
It's not a good idea to light off fireworks near you car either for the same reasons. Imagine a bottle rocket zooming into your car and catching your upholstery on fire.
While we are on the subject of things you shouldn't store in your car, remember you do not want to store gasoline in your vehicle. Gasoline and gas fumes are obviously very flammable. It's generally not a good idea to keep containers of gas in your car.
You also don't want to keep medication in your car for long periods of time. When a car heats up, medicine can lose some of it's potency.
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