Q&A
Fireworks Enforcement Task Force
1:12:16
·
178 sec
Chief Fire Marshal Flynn discusses the operations and challenges of the Fireworks Enforcement Task Force. He explains the difficulties in curbing illegal fireworks and the department's approach to enforcement.
- The task force works with NYPD and the sheriff's office to combat illegal fireworks
- Enforcement is challenging due to the ease of purchasing fireworks in neighboring states
- Penalties for possession of illegal fireworks are not severe enough to be a strong deterrent
- The task force operates seasonally, with peak activity around the 4th of July
- Confiscated fireworks are disposed of by NYPD at their range facility
Joann Ariola
1:12:16
I appreciate that.
1:12:17
Now let's turn to fireworks, enforcement task force.
1:12:21
I'm I'm really at the district that is obsessed with fireworks.
1:12:26
Legal shows, which we do, and others that just shoot fireworks for for any reason.
1:12:32
And so what type of what does the task force do?
Daniel Flynn
1:12:39
So we work on that based upon our staffing levels and it's been very difficult for us to do inter interdictions with fireworks recently.
1:12:51
We would work with NYPD.
1:12:54
They have a unit that also work on that.
1:12:56
And the sheriff's office has been very aggressive when it came to fireworks recently.
1:13:03
We have made trips out to Pennsylvania to to see people that are buying bulk products and stop them from bringing them into the city.
1:13:11
From time to time.
1:13:12
It's difficult for us and the the penalty is is not really sufficient to to really curb these these devices being brought into the city.
1:13:25
As you mentioned, we do have a explosive unit within the Bureau of Fire Prevention that does monitor those commercial shows.
1:13:33
But the regularly commercial board products are very difficult to regulate because as you know, these things are sold legally in in states that that are joining our state.
1:13:43
So people can go there on a day trip and bring back 100 of dollars worth of fireworks.
1:13:49
And it's almost it's it's close to impossible for us to really know where they are or where they're coming from.
Joann Ariola
1:13:55
Yeah.
1:13:55
And, you know, what happens?
1:13:57
Let's say you do find a large cache of fireworks, illegal fireworks.
1:14:01
What happens to them are they disposed of?
Daniel Flynn
1:14:03
We will take them, and we NYPD will dispose of them in Ramon's Nacula.
1:14:08
That's their range facility where they will I believe they blow them all up in bulk at some point.
1:14:14
I've never been there for that, but I was told that's how they dispose of them.
1:14:17
They they would be charged with legal possession of fireworks, which is really it it would be a desk clearance ticket.
1:14:25
So that's that would be our process.
1:14:27
We do collect them, of course, and we and we safely dispose of them via the MIPD.
Joann Ariola
1:14:31
Alright.
1:14:32
And and the task force is seasonal.
1:14:34
Right?
Daniel Flynn
1:14:35
Yes.
Joann Ariola
1:14:35
So what what happens on the off season?
1:14:39
Is it is it just NYPD?
1:14:40
Or
Daniel Flynn
1:14:41
I don't know that NYPD I I can't speak for NYPD.
1:14:44
I I don't know if they have it.
Joann Ariola
1:14:46
Alright.
1:14:47
When it's not seasonal, which is what is the season?
1:14:50
Would you say that they're in in full?
Daniel Flynn
1:14:52
I would say I would say Memorial Day probably it slows down significantly after 4th July, but I I would say the summertime.
Joann Ariola
1:15:00
But but throughout the summer, they're in in in force.
1:15:03
Right?
1:15:03
And you'd say any time to labor?
Daniel Flynn
1:15:05
Yeah.
1:15:05
Anytime we're made aware of of of concern, we will we'll take a look at it.
1:15:10
But, really, the the peak times, I would say, leading up to the 4th July of course.
1:15:13
What's going?
1:15:14
Okay.
