Port Jeff to Host Fireworks Show From East Beach

There may be a change in location from last year but the fireworks show will go on in Port Jefferson village on July 4 from .

According to village officials, the show starts after sunset on East Beach, but it will not visible from down Port like last year when it was in the harbor. Residents will be able to park at East Beach to view the fireworks but will not be allowed on the beach for safety reasons. will be open to residents to park and also watch from the beach.

There was a little confusion whether the fireworks show was being put on this year as signs posted around town say that there will be no fireworks in the harbor on July 4. They do go on to say in smaller type underneath that “the fireworks display returns to Port Jefferson resident beaches and will not be visible from the downtown area.”

Last year’s show was in the harbor because erosion to East Beach from winter storms prevented the village from staging the show there, according to assistant chief of the , Charlie Russo.

“There were lots of hazards in the harbor that are concern for fire department,” he said.

The boats in the harbor and the Long Island Power Authority power plant were big safety issues for the fire department. Russo also said that there were gas barges offloading the day of the fireworks last year. All of these hazards can potentially turn into a huge problem.

“You don’t think about these things if you’re not in fire protection,” Russo said.

The fireworks show also clogged up traffic in village.

“God forbid there was a hazard and we can’t get trucks down there,” he said. “When fireworks are going off people stop in their cars and look.”

As for the new location, Russo said that the fire department has no problem with it.

“Of course, yes there are hazards there too,” he said.

The Suffolk County Police Department and fire department boats will be out on the water that night making sure boaters stay far enough away from the danger zone.

Multiple patrols will be on the beach that day protecting the village including Setauket Fire Department.

“We’ll also watch the wind direction to protect the bluffs and make sure they don’t go on fire,” Russo said.