Fall River fire marshal urges residents to avoid personal fireworks, warns of fire risk

At a public meeting, Deputy Chief Neil Furtado, Fall River deputy fire chief and city fire marshal, said fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts and pose a significant fire risk to the city’s closely spaced wood-frame structures.

Furtado said the state’s prohibition on consumer fireworks, regardless of where they were purchased, is intended to reduce fires and injuries. “In the state of Massachusetts, fireworks are illegal, regardless if you purchase them legally at another state,” he said.

Why it matters: Furtado said fireworks can trigger fires that spread rapidly in Fall River’s densely built neighborhoods, creating danger for residents and firefighters and raising the potential for substantial property damage. He told the meeting that recent fireworks incidents have produced injuries — including “6 firefighter injuries” — and “well over a million dollars in damage.” The number of fires he cited for the last five years was unclear in the transcript of his remarks and is not specified here.

Furtado recommended that residents attend public shows produced by licensed professionals rather than using consumer fireworks at home. He pointed listeners to the state website for scheduled professional events: “Support your local community, and enjoy the fireworks put on by licensed professionals,” he said, referring to mass.gov.

The remarks were advisory; no formal action or vote followed. The comments were presented as public-safety guidance from the city’s fire leadership rather than a proposal requiring local legislative approval.