Happy 5th: No recorded injuries from DIY fireworks in Brooklyn

July 5, 2019 Meaghan McGoldrick

It was a relatively safe Fourth of July for Brooklyn. Eagle photo by Mary Frost

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So far, so safe (so it seems) for Brooklynites who headed up their own Fourth of July spectaculars Thursday.

While there were certainly claims of do-it-yourself displays, there were no reported firework related injuries in the borough as of early Friday morning, according to both the New York City Fire and Police departments.

Still, despite the lack of recorded wounds this morning, the New York City Health Department warns that there’s still time for something to go horribly wrong. According to the city agency, almost 70 percent of all firework-related emergency room visits occur between July 2 and July 8.

“The Health Department wants all New Yorkers to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, but please leave fireworks to the professionals,” Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said in a statement issued at the start of the week. “If you have children, make sure you speak to them about the dangers of fireworks as well. Fireworks can cause very serious injuries.”

Brooklyn block fireworks 😆🤷🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/JaYe63DUfH

— jenny 🚀 neutron (@jenfrombk) July 5, 2019

According to the Health Department, New York City saw 38 firework-related emergency room visits — four of them resulting in hospitalizations — between 2017 and 2018.

More than half of those visits were among Brooklyn and Staten Island residents.

Nationwide, there were 5,600 fireworks-related injuries between June 22 and July 22 of last year, according to the 2018 Fireworks Annual Report, conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The bulk of injuries are burns, and can be linked to devices as simple as sparklers.

Fireworks, Brooklyn style 😳💥 #July4 pic.twitter.com/LIreoaCIUH

— dariasolo (@dariasolo) July 5, 2019

Earlier this week, a 9-year-old Philadelphia girl suffered “life-altering” injuries when an M80 explosive went off in her hand.

Representatives for three Brooklyn hospitals did not immediately respond to inquiries about possible firework-related injuries in the borough last night.

FDNY officials also told the Brooklyn Eagle on Friday that, following the Macy’s fireworks display (which used the iconic crossing as a backdrop), firefighters put out “several small fires” at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge related to the production.

There were no reported injuries there either.

A spokesperson for the department told the Eagle that the small flames, caused by “rubbish,” are not out of the ordinary when it comes to firework displays, and that the FDNY — even weekly at Coney Island — has a rig on standby to do an after-event wash down of the area.

Not directly related to fireworks, four people were shot in East New York following the annual spectacle, according to ABC 7 New York. All of the victims are reportedly in stable condition.