The Rochester Fire Department is preparing for a long, hot, and dry holiday weekend with an expected increase in the number of amateur fireworks displays.
Deputy Chief Christine Schryver said there is usually an increase in fireworks around the July 4 holiday, but there’s been a problem with illegal fireworks in the city for the past several weeks.
“It’s important when people have these in the neighborhood that they call 911. That’s how we can address this,” she said. “And the fire department is going to respond, and obviously we have additional concerns right now because it’s so incredibly hot and dry.”
Schryver said even legal sparkling devices are dangerous.
Sparklers burn extremely hot, close to 2,000 degrees, and the International Association of Fire Fighters reports that in 2017, sparkler injuries sent nearly 1,200 children to emergency rooms.
Schryver said additional equipment and personnel are available this weekend if needed.
She added that since the pandemic began, the department has continually reassessed the way it responds to certain situations so that there’s no delay in getting help to those that need it.
``We’re ready to respond if we get a call,” she said.