SUFFOLK, Va. - The City of Suffolk is providing residents with a virtual fireworks display due to 4th of July celebrations being cancelled because of the pandemic.
The virtual fireworks display features highlights of several years of Parks & Recreation’s “Stars & Stripes Spectacular” events held at the Constant’s Wharf Park & Marina.
The video is available to download online, in addition to being featured on the City’s Municipal Channel several times throughout the day on July 4.
The Suffolk Fire Marshal’s Office wants residents to play it safe and follow the law when celebrating Independence Day.
Officials say that the use or sale of fireworks in Suffolk is prohibited by City Code.
The Code states, “It shall be a violation of this Code for any person to store, to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks, except as provided in the rules and regulations issued by the fire official for the granting of permits for supervised public displays of fireworks by the jurisdiction, fair associations, amusement parks and other organizations.
Those in possession or observed igniting and deploying fireworks can be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor, punished by a fine up to $2,500 or in jail for up to 12 months.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) notes that fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage, according to officials.
Most recent statistics note that U. S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries, with children younger than 15 years of age accounting for more than one-third of the injuries.
For more information on fire safety, please contact the Suffolk Fire Marshal’s Office at 757-514-4540.
