Contact: Annette Ponce, PIO Date:
June 25, 2001
Office: 214-670-7949
Pager: 214-670-4115 code 9885
Dallas Fire Officials to Monitor Fourth of July Fireworks Activities
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, in cooperation with the
Dallas Police Department, will be closely monitoring the Dallas parks and lakes
for illegal use of fireworks. Teams of fire inspectors and police officers will
patrol neighborhoods and answer complaints of illegal fireworks use. In
addition, patrolling police officers will be on the lookout for individuals in
possession of fireworks.
Nationally, fireworks accidents cause tens of millions of
dollars in property damage and thousands of serious injuries, as well as some
deaths, each year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates
that 8500 persons in the United States are treated in the emergency departments
each year for fireworks-related injuries. CPSC also states that seven of every
100 persons injured by fireworks have been hospitalized, approximately 40% of
those injured are children aged 14 years or less. Even sparklers, often thought
to be harmless, burn as hot as 1,200 degrees causing hundreds of injuries.
Not only is it illegal to use or possess fireworks in the
City of Dallas, it is dangerous. Watching fireworks at a public professional
display is the safest way to enjoy the holiday. We encourage residents to view
fireworks at one of the licensed displays listed on the attached handout.
LEAVE FIREWORKS TO THE
PROFESSIONALS
(One page of attachment follows)
FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN DALLAS
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department wants to remind everyone
that fireworks are illegal in Dallas and up to 5,000 feet from the city limits.
Anyone caught possessing or using fireworks will be fined up to $2,000.
Along with several other agencies, the Dallas Fire-Rescue
Department will be closely monitoring Dallas parks and lakes to ensure
compliance. Due to past extensive use of illegal fireworks, Mountain Creek Park
and Elgin Robertson Park will close at 9:00 p.m. on July 4th.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department encourages residents to
view fireworks at one of the approved shows listed below:
July
4, 2001
Chandlers Landing Prestonwood
Country Club
Lake Ray Hubbard 15909
Preston Road
Brookhollow Country Club Lakewood
Country Club
8301 Harry Hines Boulevard 6430
Gaston Avenue
Dallas Athletic Club Northwood
Country Club
4111 LaPrada Drive 6524
Alpha Road
Royal Oaks Country Club Fair
Park
7915 Greenville Avenue
Media representatives are asked to make interview requests
prior to July 2, 2001, as all available officers will be in the field on July 4th.
Those requests may be directed to Deputy Chief Joe Pierce, Fire Prevention
Education and Inspection Division:
Telephone: 214-670-4628
“LEAVE
FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS”
DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND INSPECTION
214-670-4319