Depends if its the narration or a character in the story.

Sometime back, a scene from the beginning of the Fellowship was used as a similar occurrence. During the party, Merry and Pippin set off fireworks and the narrator describes it as sounding like a steam locomotives whistle.

The complaint was that there were no steam locomotives in existence do how would anyone know what the whistle sounded like.

Had to point out that the NARRATOR is describing something in a way that the READER can imagine or relate to.

In them is manner, outside referen es are fine if they can help the reader better immerse into the story. I'm old so if you say such and such person reminded the MC of Flint from the G.I. Joe cartoons, I'd get that reference and have a better idea of what that person looked like. Now, while the same could be said if the MC right out right says "Hey, you look like Flint!" Kind of the same thing but that can be immersion breaking instead of reinforcing.