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Illegal fireworks use ignites small blaze at Pinnacle Peak Park
June 22, 2011
Contact: Jim Ford, deputy fire chief, (480) 312-1804
Illegal fireworks use ignites small blaze at Pinnacle Peak Park
An incident Monday at Pinnacle Peak Park served as a frightening reminder that our fragile desert environment and fireworks do not mix.
A visitor set off fireworks while hiking with friends along the park trail. It started a small brush fire that was fortunately extinguished by the visitor, park stewards and other hikers.
The suspect was contacted by Police officers in the parking lot where he was identified as Joseph Viganola, a 21-year-old New Jersey resident. He told officers that he was with a group of friends hiking the trail. At about the ¾-mile marker, he decided to set off some consumer fireworks. One of the flaming projectiles ignited a fire near the trail and he dumped his water bottle on it to help control it. Other hikers who heard the fireworks go off alerted park stewards and stopped to help put out the fire as well.
Mr. Viganola said he purchased the fireworks at a tent near the Loop 101 Freeway and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, so he thought that it was legal to set off them off in the city. Mr. Viganola was not arrested at the scene, however, charges are being filed for the fireworks-related city code violation.
State laws do not allow local communities to restrict the sale of consumer fireworks. The city of Scottsdale, however, prohibits the use of any type of consumer firework within the city limits.
Last year’s move to restrict fireworks use in the city was taken by the Scottsdale City Council because of the threat to our urban recreation areas and the sensitive McDowell Sonoran Preserve area.
It is important that citizens and visitors know the local rules related to fireworks use.
The use of all fireworks, including permissible consumer fireworks as defined under state law, is prohibited in Scottsdale except as authorized by Scottsdale Fire Department permit. Click here to view the city’s rules on fireworks use.
Click here for fire safety tips.
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