A coming heat wave combined with the 4th of July holiday could pack a one-two punch for emergency responders.
Forestry officials are on high alert
"Right now it's so hot and so dry it's really started to brown a lot of the plants," said Nathan Waters, Assistant District Forester with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture said. "You could have ashes come up and blow and if they go into a dry field or anywhere there's dead material, it can start a fire, and you're liable for that. Same thing applies with fireworks."
Crews in Pigeon Forge have already seen that first hand.
"Just a month or so ago we had a huge brush fire that nearly burned down a cabin that held up to about 60 people and it was caused from fireworks," said Chief Tony Watson.
Although they are sold in Sevier County, fireworks are banned in Pigeon Forge. Watson says it is common for tourists to be unaware of the laws.
"They're still sold in the county, so a lot of visitors come in and they don't know that that could cause a wildfire," he said. "It could be a rough night for us unless we get a lot of rain before now and then."
Experts recommend checking local ordinances to make sure fireworks are legal where you plan to set them off. Children should have plenty of adult supervision, and they caution to always plan ahead.
"While you're out there, make sure you have a bucket of water with you if you're going to have little sparklers or something like that. Put your sparklers in the water or in a sandbox," Waters said. "We want to be really careful because we want to protect the land that we're trying to celebrate this July 4th."
Watson said it is always safest to leave the firework displays to the professionals.
The City of Knoxville's Symphony and fireworks at World's Fair Park will air on Channel 10.