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Celebrations Honolulu firefighters were busier last night than they were last New Year's Eve, as they responded to a steady stream of fireworks-related calls, ranging from brush fires to respiratory problems.
contribute to a
busy night for
firefighters
HFD expresses no regrets for
Electrical fire leaves family homeless
reduced staff despite a last-minute
surge in fireworks permitsBy Rod Antone and Rosemarie Bernardo
rantone@starbulletin.com rbernardo@starbulletin.comBy 10:30 p.m., the Honolulu Fire Department had responded to more than 150 emergency calls, compared with 145 for all of last New Year's Eve. And fire officials noted that, traditionally, the most active hours for New Year's celebration fire calls are between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
"It's a little bit busier than last year," HFD spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said. "But most of the stuff is small, so we're thankful for that."
Despite the busy night, the department did not regret its decision to have fewer staff working than usual on New Year's Eve, he said.
"We have our assistant chief monitoring things. If there was a major situation where we had to divert most of our personnel to, we would still be able to activate those (extra) units. They're ready to go if we need them," Tejada said.
HFD announced earlier that the department would not staff the usual extra 12 firefighters this New Year's Eve because there were fewer brush fires this year than previous years following the first day of fireworks sales, Dec. 26.
New Year's Eve celebrations were the cause of more than half of the work for firefighters last night. By 10:30 p.m., HFD had responded to 31 brush fires, 24 rubbish fires, six vehicle fires and five building fires, the majority of which were fireworks related.
"We also went on 69 medical calls, 18 of which involved difficulty breathing," said Tejada. "We don't know whether that's fireworks-related ... we just want to give that fact out."
Spurred by a burst of last-minute buying yesterday, the number of fireworks permit sales jumped about 36 percent this year compared with last year, according to city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
As of 4:15 p.m. yesterday, a total of 5,989 fireworks permits were sold on Oahu yesterday compared with 4,414 last year, said Costa. In 2000, a record number of 6,427 permits was issued.
All but three satellite city hall sites closed at 4 p.m. yesterday. Offices at Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center and Windward Mall remained open until 5 p.m. A final count on the number of fireworks permits sold at those three offices was not available, Costa said.
Employees at three satellite city hall sites -- Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center and City Square in Kalihi -- were the busiest handling the surge of people who purchased fireworks permits at the last minute, Costa said.
Many residents were purchasing fireworks at Dillingham Grocery Outlet next to the Kalihi satellite city hall.
By 1 p.m. yesterday, store manager Zella Nakamura said, the store had sold out its 5,000- and 10,000-firecracker bundles, leaving only throw packs, smoke bombs and fountains for last-minute shoppers.
Two years ago, a state law became effective requiring a $25 permit for a 5,000-firecracker pack. Costa said money collected from fireworks permit sales will go to the general fund.
Costa speculated last year's fireworks permit figures were low due to the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies.
"They weren't having that much festivities," Costa said. Now "everybody is back in the holiday mood, that's for sure."
Daiei buyer Mel Yogi said the store ordered 10 percent more fireworks this year than last year but did not receive its full order. "We didn't get a full load," Yogi said.
Still, Yogi said Daiei got more firecrackers this year than last year.
Last year the retailer did not sell all of the firecrackers it shipped in. This year the Pearl City store ran out on Sunday, and the other stores ran out Monday.
"We did attempt to bring in more than the prior year, but we still ran out," Yogi said.
Star-Bulletin reporter Nelson Daranciang
contributed to this report.