Gloucester Township Area's 4th Of July Fireworks 2020 Canceled

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — July 4 events across the country will not look the same this year thanks to the coronavirus. Many cities and towns have been forced to cancel the annual Fourth of July events, including those in Camden County.

The Camden County Freedom Festival, the county's annual concert and fireworks celebration for the 4th of July at the BB&T Pavilion, has been canceled.

"We canceled the fireworks because we didn't think it was a good idea to encourage large gatherings at this time," Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. "Ensuring safety means better health for the public and better health for the economy."

Gloucester Township will still celebrate the Fourth of July with a House Decorating Contest open to all residents. Participants are asked to decorate their homes based on a 4th of July or America theme.

Pictures can be emailed to mayor@glotwp.com and submitted no later than July 3. Residents are encouraged to take a brief survey to vote on the best decorated house. The survey will be available on the website as well as social media platforms until the end of the day on July 7. The winner will be announced on July 8, and presented with gift cards to local businesses.

With town-run fireworks canceled, Gloucester Township police issued fireworks safety guidelines for residents.

If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eye wear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light them indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks.

Sparklers Are Dangerous

Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

For more information visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks

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