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Belleville resident urges stricter enforcement of consumer fireworks after late-night blasts
Summary
A Belleville resident told the City Council she is worried about public-safety risks from large, late-night consumer fireworks and asked the city to do more to keep neighborhoods safe on July 4.
Kathy Steckler, a lifelong Belleville resident, told the City Council on May 5 that booming consumer fireworks in her Don Heights neighborhood have become louder and more dangerous in recent years, and she asked the city to act to protect nearby houses.
Steckler said she found firework remnants in her yard the morning after last year’s July 4 and called the nonemergency Belleville Police Department twice to request a response. “I don’t want to take anyone’s fun away, but last year it was a little bit scary for me,” she said.
The resident described houses on Bel Air Drive as close together and said she fears roofs or lawns could catch fire from the larger fireworks she described as sounding like “booming cannons.” Steckler asked the council to consider ways to allow celebrations while reducing risks for neighbors who do not want fireworks nearby.
The comment came during the council’s public participation period; the council did not take immediate action during the meeting. Steckler said she had phoned the city’s nonemergency police number twice during last year’s incident and asked for an on-site response but did not describe any follow-up outcome.
The council heard other public comments later in the meeting but did not debate or vote on fireworks regulations that night. The council did not provide a staff response on what enforcement options, fines or restrictions the city might pursue at this session.
