WFD offering free fireworks soaking buckets ahead of July 4th.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) —  The Wilmington Fire Department is handing out free Fireworks Soaking Buckets to help families celebrate safely this Independence Day.

The buckets, donated by Kilwin’s, are available now through July 4 at two fire stations: Wilmington Fire Headquarters at 801 Market Street and Station 15 at 3335 Masonboro Loop Road.

Designed to help residents properly dispose of used fireworks, the buckets include safety tips printed on the outside.

Buckets are available outside the front doors of both stations on a first-come, first-served basis. The fire department says there’s no need to knock, you can just grab one if they’re still available.

Wendy Gianni-King is the department’s risk reduction coordinator. She says firefighters see a surge of calls around the holiday. 

“Outdoor fires are a big concern. Burn calls, calls that deal with people’s burnt hands, burnt faces, burnt bodies; they come pretty regularly on the Fourth of July holiday,” she said.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 31,000 fires are unintentionally started by fireworks each year.