City to delay fuse on 4th fireworks
Independence Day show may be rescheduled for Labor Day
WOONSOC.ET – In the era of social distancing, the city’s venerable Fourth of July fireworks display has been something like a long ball making an arc for the Green Monster at Fenway, if you can remember that far back Going, going... That’s right, gone. Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt had been watching the trajectory of the rules for social gatherings in hopes of salvaging the event this year, but finally made the decision to postpone it after Gov. Gina
Raimondo’s latest restrictions on crowd size that came out Monday. Approximately twice as many people pitched blankets and lawn chairs at Barry Field last year to take in the fireworks display than the present limit under the governor’s executive orders – 250.
“Nothing is cast in stone because this has been a very fluid situation,” said Baldelli-Hunt. “But our goal is to have the fireworks display on Labor Day.”
Hopefully, by September, the crowd caps for public events will be relaxed enough
to sTuee]e in the expected crowd of fireworks-watchers, the mayor says.
With the extra time to plan, the city will explore the possibility of bringing in additional features to make the show more festive, including food and musical performances.
It’s unclear how many municipal fireworks shows will be postponed or canceled due to the social distancing edicts resulting from C29I'- 9, but %aldelli-+unt says the city’s probably won’t be the only one affected.
3erhaps it’s ironic that, while the municipal show is off the table, fireworks – illegal ones – seem to be the other pandemic of late. After months of distance learning for children, amid the shutdown of bars, restaurants and other social outlets, at-home fireworks appear to have emerged as a maMor steam vent, according to 'eputy 3olice Chief Michael Lemoine.
“Woonsocket is experiencing what towns and cities not only across 5hode Island, but the country are experiencing, which is an uptick of illegal aerial fireworks,” said the deputy chief. “We’ve had numerous complaints from all areas of the city where illegal fireworks are being set off.”
-ust as other departments have assembled directed patrols or other details to monitor the problem, the W3' has assigned an officer whose main duty is to answer complaints related to fireworks, said Lemoine.
The plan is to sei]e illegal fireworks and cite anyone who’s caught using them, said Lemoine, adding that officers will be answering complaints through the )ourth of -uly weekend.
The W3' isn’t the only department in the area to issue a warning about the use of illegal fireworks on the cusp of Independence 'ay. In neighboring Massachusetts, %lackstone 3olice Gary Gilmore offered a reminder that all fireworks are illegal in the %ay State, not Must aerial devices
It is illegal to use possess or sell fireworks of any kind in Massachusetts, including Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely portrayed as safe, Gilmore said. Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, common firecrackers and other incendiary devices.
Gilmore said fireworks are a proven risk ha]ard, causing nearly 900 fires and over 50 inMuries, about 0 percent of them involving firefighters who responded to the fires, from 0 0- 0 9 in Massachusetts. The fires represent property losses approaching million.
“While professional fireworks displays may be limited this year due to the C29I'- 9 pandemic, we strongly urge that residents don’t attend any fireworks shows executed by non-licensed individuals,” Gilmore said.