Setting off fireworks for Independence Day is a common way to celebrate, but several rules and precautions should be taken beforehand.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, Rachel Moreno, the outreach coordinator and public information officer for the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, has several tips and warnings to keep Cy-Fair residents safe for the holiday, including laws to follow and proper firework use.

Individuals setting off fireworks for the holidays should be considerate of neighbors and pets, including veteran neighbors with PTSD, and pick up trash after the fact, Moreno said. Individuals should also make sure they properly dispose of their used fireworks to stop potential fires.

Last firework season, during New Years Eve, 12 house fires caused by improper firework disposal were reported, Moreno said.

"People were cleaning up their mess, putting it straight in the trash can and then putting it right next to their house," she said. "The wind was swirling and it was causing the embers to ignite and cause house fires. We really would encourage folks to douse the fireworks in water or soak them in a tub of water overnight and then throw them away the next day and don't put them anywhere near their home."

Other tips include being careful if giving small children sparklers, as they burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, and that it is illegal to ignite fireworks within 600 feet of a church, hospital, veterinary clinic, asylum, licensed child care center or a school. It is also illegal to ignite fireworks within 100 feet of anywhere storing flammable liquid like a gas station or fireworks stand, Moreno said.

"A lot of these schools have big open spaces next to them," Moreno said. "If you're within 600 feet of that school, it's technically illegal to shoot fireworks there."

Moreno said fireworks users should follow the instructions for safety reasons and use 1.4 gram fireworks, as most 1.3 gram fireworks are designated for professional use, and make sure the fireworks are not pointed toward people.

"There is a state law that if you have more than 50 people at a fireworks display, you have to have a permit for that," she said. "You may just have a big party that's got more than 50 people there ... technically you're supposed to have a permit for that and a licensed technician."