Firecrackdown: Mayor Forms Illegal Fireworks Task Force

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — A new crackdown will target suppliers behind a boom of illegal fireworks across New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.

De Blasio on Tuesday said he formed a multi-agency task force with a simple goal: "Finding where the supply is and cutting it off at the knees."

Frustrated New Yorkers have recently lost sleep as fireworks snap, crackle and pop — but mostly boom — over the city.

Complaints over illegal fireworks set off 311 lines all during the coronavirus crackdown, data shows. They exploded 4,000 percent in June alone, according to reports and data.

Brooklyn in particular has seen sparks fly over fireworks. Frustrated residents in Flatbush and Ditmas Park called 311 at least 300 times to complain over the noisy projectiles.

What lit the boom's fuse is still murky, but de Blasio placed blame partly on pent-up energy from the coronavirus lockdown.

"We know that on beautiful summer nights like we're having now, unfortunately some young people are turning to the wrong approach and that's illegal fireworks," he said.

The task force will consist of 10 officers from NYPD's Intelligence Bureau, 12 FDNY fire marshals and 20 Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation members, according to the mayor's office.

They'll go after "big fish" fireworks suppliers through investigations and undercover stings, de Blasio said.

He said it's "a beginning" but promised the task force will move fast.

The FDNY will also start a public safety campaign through PSAs and social media to highlight illegal firework dangers, the mayor's office said.

De Blasio stopped short of pushing for NYPD officers to conduct on-the-street crackdowns. He said it's more important for officers to deal with a recent uptick in serious and violent crime.

But he left the door open for NYPD officers to respond if they judge a situation is dangerous.

"If anything is a matter of life and death, of course the NYPD is going to intervene," he said.

De Blasio encouraged New Yorkers with fireworks complaints to call 311 and only call 911 for "life and death" situations.

He also announced that the city will conduct its own July 4 firework shows in 5-minute installments across the city from June 29 to the Independence Day holiday.

Those "very professional, beautiful" fireworks will be much different than those now plaguing the city, he said.

"Different, but very special," he said.