Murfreesboro Fire Rescue and Murfreesboro Police Departments are gearing up for the upcoming New Year's holiday weekend.

The joy and excitement of Christmas is over and the New Year is fast approaching. The close of 2016 will surely be celebrated with families and friends enjoying various festivities.

MFRD and MPD just want to make sure that you celebrate safely.

MPD officers will be looking for signs of impaired driving and enforcing alcohol related violations, especially DUI. "Don't take any chances, get a sober ride home, and never drink and drive," says Sgt. Kyle Evans.

When are you legally allowed to shoot fireworks in Murfreesboro?

Citizens in the city must also be aware that there are specific times that use of fireworks is permitted inside the city limits. According to City Code, "Fireworks may be used between 10:00 am and 12:00 am (midnight) on December 31st, and between 12:01 am (midnight) and 1:00 am and 10:00 am and 11:00 pm on January 1st."

MFRD's Fire Marshal's Office would like to remind citizens that it is unlawful for any person to use any item of fireworks on private property without the consent of the property owner or for any person to use any item of fireworks on public property including public streets.

It is also unlawful for anyone in the City of Murfreesboro to sell, use, or possess any mortar firework with a single tube, if that tube has been preloaded with a shell and the tube or shell has a diameter of one and a half inches. Anyone in the city limits is also prohibited from selling, using, or possessing reloadable fireworks and bottle rockets.

MFRD urges citizens to enjoy public displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals, rather than risking the use of consumer fireworks. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks cause an estimated 18,500 reported fires in the United States each year.

In 2014, over 10,500 people in the U.S. were seen in emergency rooms due to fireworks related injuries; 51 percent of those injuries were to the extremities and 38 percent were to the head.

"If you do choose to shoot consumer fireworks, please exercise extreme caution, strictly follow the instructions on your fireworks packaging, and always make sure to have adult supervision," said Fire Marshal Carl Peas.

Peas also offers the following safety tips:

• Obey local ordinances regulating the sale and use of fireworks.

• Use fireworks in a safe area, away from dry fields, forests, and buildings.

• Carefully follow label directions and always have adult supervision.

• Light one firework at a time and handle lighters safely.

• Never point or throw fireworks at people or animals.

• Keep water and garden tools nearby. Wet towels can be used to extinguish small flames.

• After the celebration ends, observe the area where fireworks were used to make sure everything is safe before leaving.

For more tips on fireworks safety, please visit www.nfpa.org/fireworks. You can also find a public service announcement regarding consumer fireworks at https://youtu.be/PcFuIEwbITA.

Both MFRD and MPD want you to enjoy ringing in the New Year, but at no cost to your life or the lives of others. Please have a safe and blessed New Year's weekend!