With summer often comes the sights and sounds of aerial fireworks displays in Charlestown, to the delight and, sometimes, aggravation of neighbors.
Charlestown Police Chief Michael Paliotta states that "We intend to investigate fireworks complaints aggressively and will be adding additional patrols in the coming weeks to specifically seek out violators and respond to these types of calls for service. Our police personnel have been informed to use officer discretion on handling these calls for service, and that public education on this topic is the primary goal in an attempt to reduce future violations."
The Office of the Rhode Island Fire Marshal says that the only legal fireworks are ground-based devices and sparklers. The ground or hand-held devices produce a shower of colored sparks, or smoke, or may feature a colored flame, a crackling sound or whistle.
"These devices do not rise into the air, do not fire inserts or projectiles into the air, and do not explode or produce a report," according to a fact sheet provided by the fire marshal.
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