Independence Day is a time for family, friends and cookouts. It’s also a time when many people celebrate with fireworks. While they can create memorable moments, they can also create memorable conversations with emergency responders. Stick to the first kind of memories and keep these tips in mind.

• Fireworks and power lines should never occupy the same airspace. If a firework gets tangled in an overhead line, lodged on a pole or lands near electrical equipment, do not attempt to retrieve it. Electricity always wins. 
• Lighting multiple fireworks at once might seem efficient, but can lead to a dangerous situation. Light one firework at a time and move away.
• Sparklers are hotter than you think. They may look harmless, but they can burn at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to melt some metals and ruin a perfectly good holiday.

Celebrate 250 years of the United States of America’s freedom safely this year.