Citizens for a Safer Florida, Inc.

Firechief seeks ban on fireworks

Aug 14, 2008

Toledo police chief seeks fireworks ban after fire leaves 200 homeless
Monday, July 7, 2008 9:02 AM


TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) ?— Toledo's police chief wants to ban the sale of fireworks following a weekend fire that swept through an apartment complex and left about 200 people homeless.

Chief Mike Navarre says it makes no sense to allow fireworks to be sold but tell people it's illegal to shoot them off.

Residents have reported that people were lighting fireworks around the Hunters Ridge apartments early Saturday and that some landed on the roof of one building before the complex went up in flames.

Assistant Fire Chief Luis Santiago says investigators aren't ready to say pyrotechnics caused the blaze, but he says witness interviews are pointing in that direction.

No injuries were reported in the fire. The property loss has been estimated at $5 million.