The Fourth of July is coming, and there are so many things to do to celebrate Independence Day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to spend a little time catching up on the importance of our 13 colonies’ Declaration of Independence from England. If you look in one of your old school books or go online, you can see the words in this document were important, not only when initially celebrated in 1774 (although it was written in 1772), but also with addition of the Emancipation Proclamation and women’s suffrage.

Local celebrations take us beyond the original importance of the Fourth of July. Here in Idaho, as with other states, most of our ways of celebrating focus on fun generated by parades such as the ones in Blackfoot, Pocatello, Inkom and the list goes on. Personally, I like the Inkom parade because it is so small town with kids on horseback, clowns maybe a truck with stuffed wild animals and hunting dogs baying in a trailer behind the truck. After the parade, one place to quench one’s thirst is the Red Pony, which has been open since before 1965 and continues to be small-town friendly.

Firecrackers designed for individual use start to be heard during the day. These are sold in temporary stands but it may require going out of town to find them because of the possibility of fires when the weather is really hot. It’s funny, because on the radio and in the newspaper there will be warnings about using firecrackers during hot, dry weather such as we are having now. Regardless, one can still hear the zip, zoom or whistling sounds as little firecrackers buzz into the air. If we live in areas such as Johnny Creek or Gibson Jack Creek, we hold our breaths and wonder where parents are when their little “fire starters” light matches.

Huge displays of large and beautiful fireworks, sponsored by cities and large businesses, take place as soon as the sky becomes dark on July Fourth. It’s fun to drive to an event parking lot and see the shapes, colors and new designs that come to life as these awesome figures zoom up high into the sky followed by observer’s choruses of oohs and awes. If you don’t want to wait in the inevitable traffic jam or want to see the event from farther away, you can drive up onto the mountains that enclose Pocatello and comfortably witness the fireworks as they brighten the deep, dark sky.

One sound and sight that can bring a chill to anyone at this time is the scream of a siren as a fire truck zips by. This is especially true for those who live on hillsides where quantities of juniper trees grow naturally. If you have never seen a juniper literally explode, that sound brings a sudden awareness that even the smallest fire can initiate unstoppable trouble. So now it’s time to address some cautions that can help erase the fear of fire either in the Gibson Jack or Johnny Creek area:

• Remove Juniper trees close to your house.
• Do not pile grass clippings. Instead, dump them into the garbage bin.
• Convince your children (and yourself) to light firecrackers only in a clear area with a hose handy.
• Perhaps most important, you should urge your town and county to prohibit the sale of firecrackers.

Valuable personal knowledge is offered here by Steve Leaman. He has lived in Gibson Jack all of his life and is notably careful in his attention to fire. Even so, the Charlotte Fire destroyed Leaman’s 20 acres, including dozens of planted trees, three houses, a cabin, a barn, several antique wagons, several motorized vehicles and numerous machines for mowing, excavating, sawing and the like. Aside from the profound personal effect he experienced from the loss, he offers advice related to insurance for others living in either of those two areas.

Discuss everything on your property with your insurance representative, including full or liability auto and truck insurance; photograph antiques, expensive furniture, rugs, paintings and the like; and make a list of the verifiable value of each important item. With all that information written down, you can enjoy the Fourth of July and take time to ponder the significance of our Declaration of Independence.

Kay Merriam of Pocatello has a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She was the president of the state League of Women Voters for two years and president of the Pocatello chapter for two years as well. She was the president of the Bannock County Planning and Zoning Committee for 11 years and on the Pocatello-Chubbuck District 25 School Board for six years.