WASHINGTON — DC Fire and EMS is working specifically around the Fourth of July holiday to get illegal fireworks off the streets. The mission feels all the more urgent after it was discovered that a two-alarm apartment fire in Southeast, D.C. Tuesday that left 76 people displaced was caused by illegal fireworks.
"A lot of times, people actually bring them to us; we’ll find them out on the streets," said Investigator Whitney Ward with the Fire Investigations Unit (FIU). "We may also find them when we’re investigating fires and when we see them then, whether they are in the home or anything like that, we’ll definitely confiscate all the illegal ones.”
The task force is made up of two teams of two investigators on each end of the city, canvassing neighborhoods to get to the bottom of how and where illegal fireworks find their way into D.C.
“If you have to travel to Pennsylvania or South Carolina, those fireworks are not legal here in the District of Columbia," Ward said.
The task force is continuing to work on its investigation into the fire at Oxford Manor Apartments, which fire officials say was caused by roman candles. The discharge of those illegal fireworks left two buildings uninhabitable and dozens of families without a place to stay.
DC Fire and EMS released video Thursday of individuals they believe started that fire.
"If it’s juveniles, we’re sure they didn’t intend to set the structure on fire, but the fact that they were playing with illegal fireworks in the District, we’d like to really just know where those fireworks came from," said Investigator Donovan Sanchez.
Authorities say they don’t believe the illegal fireworks that caused the apartment fire came from a legal seller.
DC Fire & EMS Chief John Donnelly said that fire was accidental, but investigators are still collecting evidence.
“First, we’re going to have to identify the individuals," Donnelly said. "The age is going to be part of the determination of what the charges are. There’s obviously an illegal use of fireworks charge.”
To report suspected illegal fireworks activity, you can call the arson tipline at 202-673-2776 (ARSN) or 311.
If you see illegal fireworks in action, call 911.
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