From our news services
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) advises visitors and adjacent homeowners that the discharging of fireworks (including sparklers) or possession of fireworks is illegal on all National Park Service-managed lands, including all beaches from the southern boundary of Nags Head to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
Additionally, fireworks of any kind are prohibited in the Village of Ocracoke and on the entire island of Ocracoke.
Aside from the fact that fireworks are illegal and pose a significant fire hazard to local communities, private use of fireworks can also pose a significant nuisance to people, pets and wildlife – not to mention the risk of wildfires.
There are also concerns that fireworks could spark fires, as the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) has classified 99 counties as partially or fully affected by moderate or unusual drought, and conditions are rapidly deteriorating across the state due to high temperatures and low rainfall.
DMAC classified 57 counties as moderately dry or D1. Another 42 counties were classified as abnormally dry. This is only the second time since 2000 that North Carolina has classified more than 50 percent of the state as being in drought in a single week.
“The hot and dry conditions have led to a rapid deterioration of conditions across the state,” said Klaus Albertin, chairman of DMAC. “The lack of precipitation has been made worse by the warm weather and low humidity. We have already seen impacts on waterways and reservoirs. Late spring and early summer are critical for the growing season, and impacts on agriculture are already being seen.”
Coast Guardsmen will patrol the beaches throughout the upcoming Fourth of July holiday week.
Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands have the only two permitted coastal fireworks displays: Tuesday, July 2, at 9:15 p.m. at the south end of Ocracoke Island and Thursday, July 4, at 9:00 p.m. at the Avon Fishing Pier.
Click here for information about Independence Day events in Ocracoke.
