As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Fort Worth first responders are reminding residents about firework safety.
During a June 4 City Council meeting, the Fort Worth fire and police departments provided a rundown of firework dangers and safety precautions residents should take if they ignite firecrackers outside of city limits.
Officials stressed that residents can only set off fireworks in . Possessing and setting off fireworks inside Fort Worth city limits is illegal, and violators may face a Class C misdemeanor citation and fine.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be communicating through social media to get the message out to everybody that we are going to be out, and that fireworks are dangerous,鈥� Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge said.
. The city received 2,437 calls about fireworks on Independence Day and the day before, according to presented to Fort Worth City Council in March. That was 458 more calls than the year before, or a 23% increase.
Council member Macy Hill said she was concerned about access to information on which firework shows are permitted inside the city. The city plans to post a list of permitted firework shows on social media, Alldredge told Hill.
in which they spark fires in grass, shrubs, trees and even buildings, according to Fort Worth鈥檚 code compliance department.
Improper handling of fireworks may result in burns and eye wounds, two of the most common injuries seen at .
Residents who illegally possess, hold, sell, deliver or manufacture fireworks may receive a fine of up to $2,000, Alldredge said.
Residents may report illegal fireworks by calling 817-392-4444 or visiting ; 911 should be used only for emergency situations.
Residents also may report fireworks through the mobile app, Allredge said.
鈥淲e want you to utilize the fireworks hotline. That鈥檚 very very very important. The Fourth of July is a very resource intensive event for us,鈥� Alldredge said.
Fireworks should be through the fire department. Call 817-392-6850 or email FWFire@fortworthtexas.gov to schedule a pickup or dropoff of fireworks.
Georgie London is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at georgie.london@fortworthreport.org.
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