This home fire in Levittown, New York, was caused by fireworks given to a kid.
In One America News, it was reported on July 7 (“Man Arrested after Giving His Son Fireworks that Set Two Homes on Fire”), that a Long Island father was arrested.
Allegedly Karamjit Singh gave his 11-year-old son fireworks outside his home in Levittown and instructed him to light them on July 4.
What could go wrong?
Well . . . the firework malfunctioned and ignited a detached shed, which went up in flames. According to police, the fire reached Singh’s house and a neighbor’s home. Both suffered significant damage.
“Singh faces charges for numerous offenses involving fireworks, reckless endangerment, child endangerment, and arson,” according to paper.” He entered a not guilty plea on July 5 and was freed without posting bail.
To the parents of youth setting off fireworks in Pacific Palisades, which is a very high fire severity zone, surrounded by dry brush, ask yourself one question. Would you like to be financially liable if homes go up in flames because your youth/teen set off fireworks?
All projectile and explosive fireworks are illegal everywhere in California. “Safe and sane” fireworks, which are sparklers, smokeballs and noise makers are allowed in some cities. But even those are banned from consumer use in Los Angeles, San Diego and Long Beach.
TNT Fireworks, which sells sparklers and smokeballs, is trying to get California to crack down on illegal fireworks—many of which are sold in Nevada.
Last year a bill passed by California legislators, and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom doubled the range of illegal firework fines.
But TNT wants the state to do more.
TNT makes about $110 million in revenue in California annually but could potentially see more income if the state cracks down on illegal fireworks.
The company would like to see an interstate compact between Nevada and California, that when a California resident buys fireworks in Nevada that are illegal in this state, law enforcement is notified. Firework stores in Nevada are already required to log information about their customers, including their identification.
Many TNT stands are operated by nonprofits, such as the Rotary Club, which split the proceeds with TNT. Under AB 1403, cities that allow the sale of legal fireworks collect 7% of profits to put toward local efforts to combat illegal fireworks.
And “sane and safe” fireworks, especially near dry brush could still cause problems.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sparklers “burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt some metals. The sparks can cause burns and eye injuries, and touching a lit sparkler to skin can result in a serious burn. There were an estimated 1,100 emergency department-treated injuries associated with sparklers in 2021.”
(Editor’s note: I’m still trying to figure this one out. If you do not have your six-year-old in a car seat for safety reasons, you can be ticketed $100 for the first violation and then $250 for every violation afterwards. If you give your six-year-old a sparkler, it’s considered “sane and safe.” I still have the scar by my left wrist from a burn, when my sister poked me with a “safe” firework.)