“The goal is always to make sure everyone has a safe, first, and fun fourth of July,” Police Chief Neil Noakes said.
Fireworks are illegal within the city limits. Those caught with illegal fireworks face a Class C misdemeanor citation and a fine, according to officials.
Community members are encouraged to call the Fort Worth hotline at 817-392-4444 to report illegal fireworks. Officials said the goal is to ensure the 911 line gives priority to emergency calls.
An online reporting tool has also been set up at www.reportfireworks.fortworthtexas.gov that people can access from their smartphone, tablet or computer. The MyFW app available on smartphones also allows residents to report illegal fireworks.
Between July 1 and July 6 last year, police and fire departments “received over 4,500 calls related to fireworks,” Noakes said.
Those calls included four burn injuries, six building fires, five vehicle fires and 13 grass fires, according to a June 21 memo to City Council. The city also issued four citations and seized more than 85 pounds of fireworks, the report stated.
Maya Contreras is an intern from the University of North Texas Scripps Howard Foundation Emerging Journalists program. She is a senior at Prosper High School in Prosper, where she serves as the opinion editor and lead graphic designer of Eagle Nation Online.
