Follow the law and use common sense.

    Officials Urge Safe Use Of Fireworks  

 

 

Local businesses and fireworks fans are gearing up for the skies to be lit with a spectacular display.

 

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That's what the Honolulu Fire and Police departments are reminding the public to do when setting off fireworks for New Year's celebrations.

Police Maj. Frank Fujii appealed to parents to “;please be with your child when they set off fireworks,”; adding, “;It's very disturbing to see children playing with fireworks unsupervised.”;

It is also against the law, he said yesterday at a press conference with Fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Fujii warned that the common practice of setting off fireworks on the street in front of one's home is also illegal.

Seelig said the safe use of fireworks boils down to “;time, place and manner”;:

» Use fireworks only during the legal time period between 9 p.m. tomorrow and 1 a.m. Thursday.

» Use them only on your own property in an area away from combustibles.

» Have a bucket of water or garden hose close by, and “;be very careful”; that fireworks are fully extinguished.

Seelig cited an incident last year in which someone swept up expended fireworks into a garbage can that later caught fire and caused $80,000 in damage to their home.

Seelig said 3,981 permits, at $25 each, were issued for fireworks by the close of business at city offices Friday, a dramatic decrease from the 6,598 issued last year during the same period.

“;Every year there seems to be a little bit less,”; Seelig said. “;I don't know why that is.”;

Novelties seem to be more popular, he said, probably because a permit is not required. Novelty aerial fireworks are set off the ground and may travel no higher than 6 feet; anything that does is illegal unless a licensed pyrotechnic sets them off, he said.

Permits will be sold till the close of the business day tomorrow, which could vary by satellite city halls; call 768-3798 for hours.

If anyone sees someone setting off these illegal fireworks, “;call 911 so we can get these things off the road,”; Fujii said.

As of yesterday, HPD had received more than 350 complaints about illegal fireworks activity. The department received more than 1,000 complaints between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 last year, he said.