As the citizens of Murfreesboro prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department and Murfreesboro Police Department are taking measures to make sure it's safe and enjoyable.
MPD will have residential patrols as well as increased traffic enforcement over the holiday weekend. Officers will strictly enforce speeding, seat belt, DUI, and other traffic related laws as well as the City fireworks regulations.
Both MPD and MFRD will be present at the city-sponsored "Celebration Under the Stars" event on July 4 at McKnight Park.
MPD will provide traffic and event control. MFRD will have the Special Events Team tent set up for the day's festivities and will be able to provide medical assistance if necessary. MFRD's award-winning Honor Guard will present colors at the opening ceremony and crews will be posted at the site where the fireworks will be launched. Fire engines as well as a brush truck will be on standby during the fireworks show.
In Murfreesboro's city limits, fireworks may only be used between June 28 and July 5 between the hours of 10:00 am and 10:00 pm only; except that on the Fourth of July, fireworks may be used until 11:00 pm.
The Fire Marshal's Office would like to remind citizens that it is unlawful for any person to use any item of fireworks on private property without the consent of the property owner or for any person to use any item of fireworks on public property including public streets.
"It is also unlawful for anyone in the City of Murfreesboro to sell, use, or possess any mortar firework with a single tube, if that tube has been preloaded with a shell and the tube or shell has a diameter of one and a half inches," said Assistant Fire Marshal Michael Bartlett. "Anyone in the city limits is also prohibited from selling, using, or possessing reloadable fireworks and bottle rockets."
Bartlett and CityTV filmed a public service announcement to demonstrate fireworks safety techniques and to educate the public on the fireworks laws in the City of Murfreesboro.
