“Fireworks Prohibited”
The following information is being disseminated in advance of the Fourth of July festivities in an effort to increase public awareness, ensure compliance with our City Ordinance prohibiting fireworks, and prevent a fireworks related tragedy from occurring during this year’s celebration.
Under Flagler Beach City Ordinance 9-17 (b) (1) it is considered unlawful for any person to possess, store, use or explode any fireworks in our City Limits.
The City of Flagler Beach utilizes the State of Florida’s definition of “Fireworks”, under Florida State Statute 791.01 (4) (a), which reads as follows; “Fireworks” means and includes any combustible or explosive composition or substance or combination of substances or, except as hereinafter provided, any article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation. The term includes blank cartridges and toy cannons in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, dago bombs, and any fireworks containing any explosives or flammable compound or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance.
Fireworks present two (2) serious safety concerns for Law Enforcement and Fire Service personnel: 1) Personal Injury, and 2) Fires. If compliance with the City Ordinance is gained, these two (2) concerns can be alleviated. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this concern for public safety and our goal is compliance with our Ordinance.
According to Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney, fireworks have the potential for “serious personal injury to both users and onlookers. Nobody plans for a fireworks mishap and the common thought process is “it won’t happen to me”; until it does”
The second safety concern is a spark combined with our hot and dry weather. Fireworks can easily start a brush or house fire. “When you add fireworks these types of conditions, bad things can happen relatively quickly” said Chief Bobby Pace of the Flagler Beach Fire Department. For additional information, please contact Chief Doughney at 386-517-2024 or Fire Chief Pace at 386-517-2010.
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