As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we encourage local residents to practice safety and common sense when lighting their fireworks. It seems like each year, someone gets hurt needlessly.

With recent rains, the fire danger may be low, but we urge caution anyway as a best practice.

Other safety tips include:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks

• Read and follow all warnings and instructions

• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks

• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials

• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned

• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire

• Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or on your person

• Only light one firework device at a time, then move away from the device quickly

Weather forecasters predict a sunny day, with a light breeze — around 7 mph — and about 80 degrees. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer forecast.

So enjoy the day off, celebrate with family and friends, but please be careful when the sun goes down and you start popping off the firecrackers.