While the countywide burn ban may put adamper on some traditional Independence Day festivities, manypeople will most likely still celebrate in the rest of their usualways.

    As the holiday weekend officially begins this evening when peoplepunch out their time cards, it is important to keep in mind that asthe jubilant pastimes ensue, safety is paramount.

    Local officials agree with this any time of the year. But they arespeaking out again about the safety issues people always seem moreliable to neglect whenever a three-day holiday weekend takesprecedence.

    Brookhaven Fire Department chief Tony Weeks explained that becausethe weather is so hot and dry this holiday, they are going to bemore alert and aware. He emphasized the importance of taking properprecautions while using grills for cookouts.

    “Don’t overdue the lighter fluid,” Weeks said.

    He explained that with charcoal bricks that come pre-soaked inlighter fluid, it is not hard for people to add too much to thatand create a situation they might lose control of fast.

    Weeks added to dispose of the bricks properly by making sure theyare completely ash or distinguished.

    “If you’re using gas grills, make sure it is in good operatingcondition before use,” Weeks said. “Make sure there are no leaks,and turn the gas completely off when you’re done.”

    Regardless of what type of grill, children should be kept at safedistances and not unsupervised around them.

    “It’s important to keep the kids away from grills because they cantip over easily,” Weeks said. “It’s easy to get busy with whateveryou’re doing and before you know it, things can go bad prettyquickly.”

    “Just be careful and use common sense,” he said.

    Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said that his main concernsfor the holiday weekend are drinking and driving incidents andfireworks.

    On drinking and driving, Henderson said, “We will be out in fullforce, like always. We’re not out to ruin anyone’s weekend, butwe’ve got to protect everyone else who’s out on the roads,too.”

    He urged the public to take extra caution when driving because heanticipates more traffic than the norm due to people visiting fromout of town.

    Henderson briefly addressed fireworks, saying that it is alwaysillegal to shoot them inside the city limits. If any complaints arereceived, the police will be enforcing that law.

    “We realize there are going to be people who do shoot them,” hesaid. “We just ask whoever makes that decision to be safe andconsiderate when they do.”

    He added that the primary complaint he receives on Fourth of Julyweekends is fireworks being mistaken for gunshots.

    Henderson does not raise the number of officers on duty for theholiday weekend. Instead, he urges his officers to be more alertand ready to respond because there is obviously more to do at thistime of year than usual.