D.C. authorities on lookout for illegal fireworks
By: Maria Schmitt
Special to The Examiner
July 3, 2009
WHAT'S (IL)LEGAL?
- D.C.: Only sparklers and fizzing, sparkling devices that remain on the ground are allowed. Firecrackers are illegal.
- Maryland: Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore don't allow any fireworks. Ground-based sparkling devices, gold label sparklers and novelty items are allowed in most of the rest of the state.
- Virginia: Ground-based devices and sparklers are allowed throughout the state, except in Alexandria and some municipalities, where all fireworks are banned.
Police and fire personnel in the District are going to be more aggressive this year in their efforts to stop the use of illegal fireworks and cut down on the number of fireworks-related injuries.
D.C.'s acting fire chief, Bruce Faust, told The Examiner that the two departments partnered during Fourth of July celebrations to share resources.
"We are a very small department," Faust said. "We don't want people to do their own shows in their backyards. I wish we could have enough people to really [prevent] that."
Faust said only 20 people in the 70-person fire prevention division were assigned to fire investigations. That means only 20 people are available to meet police officers in the field to identify illegal fireworks or work on roving teams with them.
The department plans to patrol through midnight July 5, as firework stands are legally allowed to stay open until that time.
A few firework-related mishaps have been reported this year.
"So far this year in the District, we've only had two serious injuries," Faust said. "And we've only had one in the last four weeks."
Both injuries involved illegal fireworks, he said.
D.C. Councilman Jim Graham again proposed legislation this year to ban anyone under the age of 16 from buying fireworks in the city. The bill has not yet been voted on.
Steve Hernandez, Graham's legislative director, said the councilman wanted to get a conversation going concerning youths and firework injuries.
Hernandez said Graham's office would continue to work with the D.C. fire department to create legislation curtailing firework use.
"Kids are getting hurt, it's not just loud noises," Hernandez said.
Multiple calls to D.C. police officials for this story were not returned.
