Lynn police to boost patrols for Fourth

LYNN – Lynn Police are urging residents to refrain from using fireworks during their Fourth of July celebrations as they increase the number of patrolmen on duty on the holiday.?We go to every call with a complaint about fireworks,” Lt. Christopher Kelly said. “But the number of complaints increases dramatically on the Fourth so sometimes it takes us a little longer.”Ward 6 City Councilor Pete Capano said he gets calls about fireworks being a nuisance, and even had the police get involved last year after a woman complained that fireworks being set off at a block party caused a phone to fall off her wall and a window to break in her home.?Most people are very good, but you get a few who break the rules,” Capano said. “But the police do an excellent job. They go to all the block parties to make sure.”Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi said he?s more concerned about safety and property damage than about any noise complaints.?Although there are complaints about the noise, it?s really just one major night of the year and leading up to (it) and shortly after,” he said. “And the police do a great job about noise that?s not appropriate.”Lozzi said he?s more concerned than usual about noise issues due to the holiday falling on a Wednesday.?That is a concern. Are we going to have fireworks the weekend after?” he said.All fireworks are prohibited by state law in Massachusetts, even popular family products like sparklers and roman candles.While Lynn Police do release fireworks safety tips, leading some to believe punishment against the use of fireworks is not enforced, Kelly said that is not the case.?We certainly don?t condone the use of fireworks,” he said. “But safety is paramount.”Of the around 9,000 fireworks-related injuries each year, 21 percent are eye injuries and more than half of the victims are young children or teenagers, according to Natalie Wolfram, a spokesperson for The Mass. Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.?Unfortunately, we see a spike in injured patients this time each year because people forget that fireworks, while fun, are also dangerous. Kids are especially vulnerable to fireworks hazards,” said Michael H. Goldstein, M.D., the society?s president, in a statement.Anyone using fireworks, Kelly said, is urged to take precautions, including the following:? Always read and follow label directions;? Have an adult present;? Buy from reliable sellers;? Use outdoors only;? Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket) and? Never experiment or make your own fireworks.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].