Nassau Sees 400 Percent Jump In Calls About Fireworks

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — People across Nassau County have been hearing the bangs and pops as fireworks are set off all over seemingly every night. As the frustration over the explosions grows, county officials asked residents to please stop lighting illegal fireworks.

According to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, the police department has received 1,277 calls about fireworks in recent weeks. That's a 400 percent increase compared to last year.

"The Fourth of July is a little more than a week away, but in Nassau County, it has already seemed to arrive," Curran said.

Calls about illegal fireworks being set off have come from all over the county. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said it's hard for officers to make arrests after calls for fireworks because when they arrive, no one lights them off.

"We will respond and we will get there," Ryder said. "But unless they're in the act of setting the firework off or they have it in their possession, it's impossible for us to take any action."

Possession of commercial-grade fireworks — things like bottle rockets and sparklers, which can be purchased in stores out-of-state — is a misdemeanor, Ryder said. Possession of consumer-grade fireworks, like large mortars, is a felony.

The county set up an email address where residents can report the sale of any illegal fireworks. If you know of any, send the information to fireworkssales@nassaucountyny.gov. Ryder said the police will investigate the tips that come in.

In addition to being a nuisance, officials said that fireworks can be traumatic for both people and animals. For many veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the loud explosions from fireworks can trigger panic.

Pet owners know how their animals will run and hide when fireworks go off. The explosions trigger the same fight-or-flight responses in wild animals, which the area has plenty of, said Nassau County SPCA President Gary Rogers.

"Why do you want to stress out these animals?" he said. "Fireworks hurt animals, and they hurt people, too."