VIDEO: The Phoenix Fire Department and Phoenix Police Department are creating a task force to help spread awareness of firework dangers and are urging communities to celebrate July 4 with fireworks safely. Thousands of people are injured by fireworks every year, with most injuries happening around the Fourth of July, data shows. Phoenix Fire officials demonstrated the dangers of fireworks by putting the festive explosives to the test in a controlled environment. In educating the community last year, Phoenix Fire Captain DJ Lee said they saw a 37% decrease in fireworks-related fires last year compared to the previous year.
The Phoenix Police Department says it will also be increasing staff around the holidays, cracking down on illegal fireworks use. โEach precinct will have additional two-person unit in the precinct to address fireworks calls for service because, as you might expect, we get an increase elevated for calls of service during that time frame,โ said Lt. Brian Rimsza with Phoenix police. Legal fireworks include sparklers or fireworks that create smoke from the ground. Illegal fireworks are ones that go up into the air or explode, officials say.
