Latest news with #fireworksban
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Crews put out blaze caused by fireworks, reiterate ban ahead of Fourth of July
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As Portland fire officials continue to urge residents to respect the fireworks ban ahead of Fourth of July weekend, another fire sparked from an illegal firework on Tuesday. The fire broke out in the Hazelwood Neighborhood of East Portland just before 1 p.m. Crews arrived at the scene and quickly put it out, though several overhead powerlines were in danger during the fire. Shooting closes roads in SW Portland, ends in arrest of man who fled on foot 'Had the fire severed the line, a live electrical wire would have been dropped in the middle of the fire scene posing increased dangers to the responding and working firefighters on scene,' officials said. A home was also impacted by the fire, though it did not see much damage and the family will not be displaced, according to officials. Witnesses at the scene later told firefighters that a group of kids in the area had been lighting fireworks before the fire started. In 2022 the Portland City Council unanimously passed a ban on the use and sale of personal fireworks. This year officials are rolling out a new online form where people can report illegal fireworks use without overloading 911 with calls. The hope is with this reporting tool officials can see where the problem areas are and create public information efforts, and quick enforcement, in the future. Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating 'Are we going to find hotspots of usage? Will we have a better chance at being able to possibly increase our capabilities in the future to go to those hotspots and actually enforce day of,' Rick Graves with Portland Fire & Rescue said. This year Portland Police Chief Bob Day is instructing officers who see people using illegal, personal fireworks to seize them and issue citations. The ban came following the deadly fire at the A firework left in a trash can sparked the fire that killed three people and destroyed the apartment complex. Robert Gremillion is reflecting on that fire that killed his son. Ahead of this Independence Day he is asking people to obey that law. 'Do you want to be a good citizen? You want to be a good neighbor, and you want everybody to have fun,' he said. 'But, you know, sometimes it's hard to keep in mind that it can take a moment to change somebody's life, for the better or for the worse.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Gremillion said people need to consider how they can affect someone's life. 'Not even my son and his friends who passed away, but all the other people in that apartment building that ended up becoming homeless,' he said. Enforcement is a challenge when the rules change from city to city. Fire officials said they want to have similar stances on fireworks as surrounding communities. They are hoping the new online tool could help. 'Even if you're not in the city of Portland you are free, and we encourage you, to utilize the form to report usage, because perhaps that data accumulation will be enough of a catalyst in those communities where fireworks are permitted to change the position,' Graves said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Edinburgh firework ban applications double
Nine communities in Edinburgh have applied for fireworks to be banned from their areas in the days around Bonfire Night.A consultation is now under way into the proposed firework control zones - which are more than double the number from last Longstone, Sighthill/Broomhouse, Gracemount and Moredun are new to the list which also includes last year's areas of Niddrie, Balerno, Seafield and Calton control zones would run for 10 days around 5 November. Anyone setting off a private firework during this period would be committing a criminal offence. Communities in last year's four firework control zones (FCZ) in the capital have to re-apply each year for the temporary follows serious disorder in the Niddrie area in 2023, and support for a ban from community groups and animal welfare officers were also attacked with fireworks, bricks and bottles during Bonfire Night last year in the Gilmerton and Sighthill areas of Edinburgh.A police officer was also injured and more than a dozen buses were damaged in Edinburgh during a night of disorder on Halloween last police were pelted with bricks and fireworks in the city's Niddrie area, with a female officer hurt when the window of her vehicle was open-top bus carrying young people with disabilities was also targeted with fireworks outside the city's Dynamic Earth of the consultation, which runs until 29 July, will be reported to the City of Edinburgh Council's culture and communities committee in Graham, the local authority's culture and communities convener, said: "We want people to be able to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly, and introducing FCZs is one way we can support communities to do that."As well as drawing on experience from last year's FCZs, this consultation will help us to better understand the impact on residents as we approach autumn 2025."
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Don't forget: Personal fireworks are still banned in Portland, officials say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – It may be firework season, but lighting your own is strictly prohibited in Portland. Since 2022, the city has had a ban on the sale and use of all personal fireworks. And as the Fourth of July approaches, Portland Fire and Rescue wants to warn that not following this law could have serious consequences. Motorcyclist loses control, crashes into semi-truck in North Portland 'We respond to many fires and injuries through the fireworks season that starts today on June 23-July 6 that can be avoided by adhering to the Fireworks Ban put into place for the safety of you and all those in our community,' PF&R said in a statement. The ban started one year after the use of fireworks was tied to a 2021 fire that ended in three deaths as well as the that damaged the Columbia Gorge. PF&R's reminder also follows the earlier this year. 'While it is unknown how either the Palisades or Eaton fire started, it doesn't matter to those who lost their loved ones, homes, personal possessions as fire is fire and can be an incredibly destructive force,' officials said. Clouds to impact Portland area temperatures this week Despite the ban of personal use, the City of Portland does allow controlled displays of professional fireworks each Fourth of July. 'We encourage you to connect with your friends and family on July 4, enjoy time together as you celebrate the 249th Independence Day and make plans to attend professional fireworks displays in the area,' PF&R said. On Monday, Portland also enacted a including bonfires, campfires, and leaf burning. The ban does not apply to charcoal and propane grills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Animal rights activists call for ban on public sale of fireworks
Animal rights activists have presented a petition calling for a ban on the public sale of fireworks, which they say cause unnecessary physical and psychological harm to the country's animals. The 'Pawprint Petition' contains more than 90,000 human signatures, and is supplemented by nearly 80,000 paw prints. Jazlyn Whales reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
'Owners are unable to protect their pets' - fireworks ban petition presented to Parliament
(from left) MPs Greg Fleming and Jenny Marcroft, and Animates' Nathalie Moolenschot, with Frankie the golden doodle in the centre. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone More 90,000 humans - and tens of thousands of animals - have signed a petition in support of a ban on the public sale of fireworks. The Pawprint Petition was presented to Parliament and was received by National MP Greg Fleming. As well as the human signatures, the petition was supplemented by nearly 80,000 additional paw, hoof prints and marks from pets of concerned owners. Petition organisers Animates said loud explosions from the letting off of fireworks - purchased around the celebration of Guy Fawkes night - created "extreme stress", leading to injuries, fatalities and missing animals. They said banning the sale of fireworks was crucial to protect animals from unnecessary fear, distress and harm. A short sale period means people stockpile fireworks that are being lit all throughout the year, say petition organisers. Photo: 123rf The New Zealand Veterinary Association spokesperson Sally Cory said fireworks caused stress and anxiety in pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife. "Every year, veterinarians are called to see horses that have been badly injured by panicking and running through fences, attempting to jump out of paddocks, or have run on to roads, endangering themselves and motorists. "Cats and dogs often get anxious and try to flee when fireworks are going off. As a result many each year are injured. Large animals in general suffer from fear and stress related to fireworks and the impact of fireworks on wildlife is also a recognised issue," Corry said. Animates general manager of marketing Nathalie Moolenschot told RNZ the signatures were gathered over six months and the inclusion of the animals pawprints and marks was likely to be "a world's first". "Just having [fireworks] available in New Zealand for sale for a couple of days a year enables people to stockpile them which means that they're being lit all throughout the year. "Owners are unable to protect their pets and livestock during those times," Moolenschot said. She said she was thrilled that the large response to the petition was now a matter of official record. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
