11 fireworks-related fires reported in Omaha

11 fireworks-related fires reported in Omaha

FIRE.THE OMAHA FIREDEPARTMENT SAYSPEOPLE REPORTEDALMOST A DOZENFIREWORKS-RELATEDFIRES.SENIOR REPORTER JAKEWASIKOWSKI TELLS USWHY OFFICIALS SAY YOUNEED TO TAKE AN EXTRASTEP.FIREWORKS NATSAN INDEPENDENCE DAYCELEBRATIONUSUALLYINCLUDES FIREWORKSBUT FOR SOME IT'S AHEADACHE THATHAPPENS IN AN INSTANTTHE OMAHA FIREDEPARTMENT SAYSTHERE WERE 11FIREWORKS RELATEDFIRES FROM JUNE 30-THTHE 7 A-M JULY 5THBATTALION CHIEF SCOTTFITZPATRICK SAYS IT'SHIGHER THAN LAST YEARSUPER: BATTALIONCHIEF SCOTTFITZPATRICK;OMAHA FIRE DEPT.36:30-"WE KIND OFLOOKED AT THETREND.MORE PEOPLE AREHOME BECAUSE OFTHE COVID CRISIS,THERE'S NOT ASMANYPROFESSIONALSHOWS GOING ONSO WE THINK MOREFIREWORKS WEREBOUGHT AND LITOFF BECAUSE OFTHAT :44OMAHA POLICE SAYTHERE WERE 18-HUNDRED COMPLAINTSTHIS YEARA 30-PERCENTJUMP OVER LASTYEARAND 14 CITATIONSWRITTEN FORFIREWORKS VIOLATIONSSUPER: JAKEWASIKOWSKISTANDUP 48:11-"OFD RECOMMENDSYOU LEAVE YOURUSED FIREWORKSON THE CURBOVERNIGHTINSTEAD OFPUTTING THEM IN ABAG RIGHT AWAY.ALSO POUR WATERON THEM TO MAKESURE THEY HAVELESS OF A CHANCEOF REIGNITING." :2238:24-"IT'SIMPORTANT TOREALIZE THATSOMETHING ASSIMPLE AS LEAVINGYOUR FIREWORKSON THE CURBCOULD SAVESOMEBODY'S LIFE.":31SOMETIMES THEFIREWORKS IGNITE AFIRE WHEN THE FUSE ISLITOR CAN RE-LIGHTWHEN PUT IN A BAG ORTRASH CAN THE DAMAGECAN VARY.OLIVIA BISHOP SAYS SHERETURNED HOME ONTHURSDAY TO FIND HERPORCH HAD CAUGHT ONFIRE FROM KIDSLIGHTING FIREWORKSSUPER: OLIVIABISHOP; PORCHCAUGHT FIRE14:10-"SHOCKEDBUT I WAS ALSODISAPPOINTEDBECAUSE I HAD JUSTSPENT A LOT OFMONEY LASTSUMMERRENNOVATING THEPORCH.IT WAS BEAUTIFULAND THE PROJECTWAS DONE ANDNOW I KIND OF FEELLIKE I'M STARTINGOVER AND I'MGOING TO BESPENDING MONEYON SOMETHINGTHAT I DON'T FEELLIKE WAS REALLY MYFAULT." :26SHE SAYS SHE'S LUCKYHER NEIGHBOR CAME TOPUT OUT THE FIRE ANDCALL 9-1-1OR HER HOMEMAY HAVE BURNEDDOWN14:49-"I FEEL LIKE IFPEOPLE HAD BEENMORE RESPONSIBLEIN THAT SITUATION,I'D STILL HAVE ANUNBURNT PORCH.":57REPORTING INOMAHAJAKEWASIKOWSKI3 NEWSNOW