By Richard Kaufman
The Greenwich Police Department is currently investigating the illegal and unlicensed ignition of professional-grade fireworks in Bible Street Park from the Fourth of July.
Around 9 p.m. on July 4, officers responded to a call about a large group gathering of approximately 200-300 people in the park in anticipation of a fireworks display. The reporting party observed a truck in the park unloading the fireworks, according to the GPD.
“The fireworks ignited without any immediate intervention from a person. No individuals took ownership. The fireworks were nearby to neighboring houses, no Greenwich Fire Department personnel were on scene, the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Department did not authorize the fireworks, and no one was supervising the ignited display,” the Department said in a facebook post on Monday afternoon.
The display consisted of two 4-foot by 8-foot pieces of plywood with professional aerial exploding fireworks, similar to the ones used at Town sanctioned displays. This year’s Town fireworks were cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Only 25 percent of the fireworks ignited because of a fuse failure.
The Stamford Bomb Squad assumed control of the disposal. A bomb squad technician asserted that the improperly rigged display represented a serious risk to the crowd of spectators and surrounding homes.
“Fortunately nobody was hurt. It was a hazardous scene and we had to call in specialists to make it safe,” said GPD Lt. John Slusarz, on Monday.
When asked if the GPD had any concerns about groups trying to test the department’s action and response times, Slusarz said he wasn’t sure if that was the case with the Bible Street Park incident.
“If someone were trying to test our response time, to do it on or around July 4 probably isn’t a good idea to get any good feedback,” he said. “We’re inundated with firework complaints. We get a lot of calls.”
Slusarz said there are many steps in the investigation, such as potentially tracing the fireworks back to the manufacturer.
“That’s a potential lead. On the other hand, we have to find out what intermediary those fireworks were sold to, then we’ll be able to track down who purchased them. There’s a bunch of steps involved, but we’re working on it.”
Anyone with information is requested to contact the Greenwich Police Department at 203-622-8054; Confidential Tip Line 203-622-3333; Confidential Email TIPS@GreenwichCT.org. Reference case 20-00019258.
