Posted at 8:24 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Four of 10 fires were fireworks-related
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
HFD said fireworks caused 64 of 154 or 41.6 percent of fires on O'ahu from Saturday through Monday. The 2005 numbers for the same period were comparable at 41.5 percent, 83 fireworks-related incidents out of 200.
The Fire Department said there were 49 brush fires during the recent three-day period and fireworks started 26 of them. Fireworks also caused 22 of 53 rubbish fires and nine of 19 Dumpster fires during the same period.
Overall statistics are encouraging but not satisfying, said HFD spokesman Capt, Kenison Tejada.
"Our goal is no fires, no injuries," Tejada said. "The numbers were a little more encouraging but the sightings of aerials seem to have gone up. People (doing aerials) need to realize they're playing with explosives."
HFD reported 9,232 firecracker-purchase permits were issued in 2006 as compared to 13,981 in 2005.
Tejada also reported HFD responded to 455 emergency incidents over the weekend as compared to 473 in 2005-06 and 366 in 2004-05. In all three years, New Year's Eve was the busiest day for medical calls.
