July 4th to test new fireworks law
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
The first Fourth of July test for a new law requiring O'ahu residents to buy a $25 permit for 5,000 pieces of fireworks begins tomorrow when fireworks go on sale for the holiday.
Advertiser library photo • July 3, 2000
The permits are available at satellite city halls. Fireworks may be purchased from retailers until 9 p.m. July 4.
Officials hope the public leaves aerial fireworks to professionals on July Fourth.
Fire Chief Attilio K. Leonardi says he hopes most residents will decide not to spend the money and "leave fireworks to the professionals" at a series of public displays around the island.
The first holiday affected by the new law was New Year's Eve, when a woman died in a fire caused by aerial fireworks. But the new law would not have made a difference in that case, because aerial fireworks already were illegal.
Another effort by Gov. Ben Cayetano to ban private fireworks on O'ahu because of dangers including direct injury and heavy pollution of the air with smoke and fumes failed in the Legislature this session.
Fireworks use on the Fourth of July generally is not as heavy as during the New Year's celebration.
But Fire Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said officials are concerned about brush fires, especially because of the relatively small amounts of rainfall this season.
Last Fourth of July, firefighters on O'ahu responded to 37 fireworks-related alarms, more than one-third of the day's 103 alarms. As early as 8 p.m., 10 of the alarms had been for brush fires, eight of which were caused by fireworks. Of eight rubbish fires, six were fireworks-related. And one of two fires classified as "other" was caused by fireworks.
| Firework displays on O'ahu | |
| • | July 3: Aloha Tower, 8:30-9 p.m. |
| • | July 4: Magic Island, 8:30-9 p.m. |
| • | July 4: Kailua Beach, 8 p.m. |
| • | July 4: Schofield Barracks, 7:30-8 p.m. |
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Fire alarms generally double on the Fourth of July holiday, records show.
The question this year is whether the cost of the permits or the limitation on the number of fireworks per permit will slow sales and use.
The permits are available at satellite city halls. The private use of fireworks will be allowed only from 1-9 p.m. July 4.
On the Neighbor Islands, fire departments reminded residents they will need $25 permits to buy firecrackers for the holiday.
On Kaua'i, permit applications will be available starting tomorrow at all fire stations, fire department headquarters, the mayor's office, RSVP information desks and the County Council Services office on the second floor of the Historic County Building.
On Maui, permits are available at the Fire Prevention Bureau at Wailuku Fire Station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July 4; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at fire stations in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina.
West Maui's annual aerial fireworks display will start at 8:15 p.m. from a barge off Lahaina.
On the Big Island, permit sales will begin tomorrow and continue through the close of business on Tuesday. Most sellers are supermarkets in Kona and Hilo and Longs Drugs.
There are two public firework shows. The first will be Saturday at the Hilton Waikoloa Village's Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Music Festival in South Kohala. The show is to come at the close of the 6 to 10 p.m. event.
The second is Hilo's Independence Day show by the Lehua Jaycees at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
