Tampa officials are preparing for massive crowds at Julian B. Lane Park and across the downtown waterfront for Saturday’s ‘Liberty by the Bay’ celebration. Tampa Fire Rescue is warning people about increased fire risks from fireworks due to the ongoing drought conditions.
Fire Safety Warnings
Tens of thousands of people are expected across Water Street, Sparkman Wharf, and Julian B. Lane Park in Tampa on Saturday. While Hillsborough County no longer has a burn ban in place, fire officials stress that fireworks pose an elevated risk right now because conditions are still very dry.
‘63% of Florida is under some sort of drought condition to where we haven’t received enough rain,’ Tampa Fire Rescue Marshal Andrell Miller said. Firework emergency calls are a concern, ranging from brush fires to car fires and house fires.
Precautions and Safety Measures
The fire department encourages people to designate a clear, safe area away from children if lighting fireworks at home and be careful when disposing of them. ‘Wait until the following morning, set them on concrete,’ Fire Investigator Chris Stone said. ‘Concrete doesn’t burn. Put them in a bucket of sand, douse them in a bucket of water, and allow them to soak overnight. Take care of your trash the following day. So if anything happens, it happens when you’ve put it off to the side in a designated area.’
The city of Tampa is holding ‘Liberty by the Bay’ at Julian B. Lane Park on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tampa police say there will be nearly 1,000 officers out on Saturday on foot, on the water, and in the air.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
