The Rochester Police and Fire Departments are trying to track down people shooting off illegal fireworks at night. Police Chief La'Ron Singletary says if they can ID where the fireworks are coming from, they'll visit the houses along that street and proactively warn people of the danger.
Rochester Fire Chief Will Jackson says they always get a surge in illegal fireworks going off around Independence Day, but this year it's been unusually early. The chiefs say it may be due to the COVID-19 lockdown or high school graduations, but that’s only speculation.
Chief Jackson says he’s also noted a surge in fires caused by illegal fireworks. Most of those fires have been in dumpsters, but last year a firework shot into the air fell on the roof of a house and triggered a two-alarm fire that left the family homeless.
Both chiefs say the only fireworks that are legal in New York are hand-held sparklers. Anything involving gunpowder that shoots into the air or explodes is banned. Possessing or using them is a misdemeanor.