Suffolk PD: lllegal Fireworks Dangerous In ‘Amateur Hands’

YAPHANK, NY — There was a flicker of sparks and then fireworks shot from a small white boat in Yaphank on Friday morning.

Smoke quickly enveloped the vessel, and fire engulfed the cabin area where people sit — thankfully no one was on board. The scene that played out had been orchestrated by Suffolk County police at the fire academy as part of the department’s yearly effort to highlight the dangers of illegal fireworks.

Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron said that the department chose to ignite seized fireworks from a boat this year because there has been an uptick in boat sales, interest in waterfront activities and many fireworks displays have been canceled due to COVID-19.

“If you are setting fireworks off from a boat, it is a unique situation,” said Cameron. “If something goes wrong, you can’t run away from it, you are trapped on the boat with it; you are going to be severely affected by it, and if the device blows up it is going to be difficult for us to get help to you.”

An estimated 8,500 people are injured by fireworks each year, said Cameron, adding, “The intent of us demonstrating the dangers of fireworks is an attempt to discourage people — amateurs, regular citizens — from using fireworks and very often, unfortunately, commercial fireworks get into the hands of ordinary citizens and they are incredibly dangerous.”

The most common injuries are to the face, hand, and eyes, Cameron said, adding that despite the department getting the word out last year, four people were injured. One person had a hand injury, another a facial injury, and yet another an eye injury. One person was “very seriously” injured, losing the sight of one eye and partial sight in the other.

“So you can imagine how devastating these injuries are to people throughout their lives,” he said, adding, “I strongly encourage people not to use fireworks.”

He said 40 % of fireworks injuries in the U.S. involve children and parents should keep in mind that fireworks deemed mundane, like firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers can produce serious injuries. Sparklers alone run 1,800 to 2,000 degrees, which is “hot enough to melt gold,” Cameron said.

He also noted that residents’ complaints about the “proliferation of fireworks” concern how the noise affects their pets and also members of the armed services returning from war who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Commissioner John Jordan said that fireworks displays should be left to professionals, noting that sparklers account for one-fourth of injuries seen in the emergency room. Instead, families should try alternative items like glow sticks, poppers, and confetti string, he said.

“Families who elect to hand 2,000-degree sparklers to children — bad mix,” he said.
County law enforcement will also be sending out officers to crack down on drunken driving both on the road and in the water this weekend.

Earlier this week, Cameron and District Attorney Timothy Sini highlighted the dangers of boating while intoxicated with Gina Lienick, the mother of Brianna Lienick, who was killed by an alleged drunken boater in 2005.

“It’s been a tough 16 years,” she said, noting the anniversary of her daughter’s death is Aug. 17. “It was a simple day of going out, a family fun day.”

The family was out on the water, when Brianna was struck by another boat that came over the top, ripped off the canopy of the vessel, and landed on top of her, killing her.

“She was only 11 years old,” Lienick said, her voice cracking as she spoke.

Cameron said that the department tries to get the message out every year in an effort to prevent similar tragedies.

“A common factor among these tragedies is poor decision-making, and something that also contributes to these situations is alcohol consumption,” he said.

Sini in a Facebook post on Friday said that while July 4th weekend “is a time of celebration of our country, fun and summer,” it is also a time that people can be forgetful of “the dangers of boating while intoxicated.”

“Please, don't drink and drive, whether it is on the road or on the water,” he wrote. “The Suffolk County police will be out enforcing the law, and my office will hold anyone accountable that puts the lives of others and their own at risk.”