NYC Creates Fireworks Task Force to Prevent Last Summer’s Serious Injuries and Burns

   New York City has created a Fireworks Task Force comprised of 32 officers from a combination of city, state, and federal agencies to prevent the use of illegal fireworks this summer, although New Yorkers should enjoy legal fireworks displays, Sheriff Josef Fucito said this morning.

     New York City is cracking down on illegal fireworks to try to prevent the increase in their use last June, when many cuts, burns, and other serious injuries occurred.

     The task force consists of 10 police officers from the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, 12 fire marshals from the Fire Department, and 10 deputy sheriffs from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

   In addition, the Fireworks Task Force will “increase its bandwidth” by working not only with the state police Forces of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, but with the Port Authority Police, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

     The task force’s strategy this summer, explained Fucito, is to target and stop major suppliers from peddling the illegal fireworks that often result in many trips to the ER.

     “If we can get the fireworks before they get into the city, that's a good thing for the people. We want to target the locations where they're stored before sale, where they create a hazard of fire and explosion.”

     “It's not all about arresting people.

     “It's about stopping something really horrific from happening. You don't want to keep fireworks in a garage, have a fire, and cause a major disruption to the community.”