The State Fire Marshal's Office hosted an 'expired marine flare disposal day' at the Hamilton Marine in Portland, where they collected old flares from folks.
Now flares are typically used as a safety tool for a sign of distress, like when you're out on a boat and need some help. The purpose of Saturday's event was for safety, as using an expired flare could cause dangerous malfunctions that could hurt yourself or others around you. That’s why the Coast Guard and Sea Scout members are here to help.
"It's not often something you think about,” said Sea Scout Lawson Riddell. “Flares have an expiration date and after they expire, they are not as useful, and they sometimes won't light. It's a safety measure." The fire marshals on Saturday say it's important to dispose of them this way, as they cannot be thrown away.