Cedar Park Firefighters Want Residents To #StopThePop

CEDAR PARK, TX — Ahead of New Year's Day, Cedar Park fire officials remind residents not to pop fireworks at all and to be careful when cooking.

Cedar Park Fire Department officials reiterated that fireworks are, in fact, illegal.

"While fireworks are extremely popular at this time of year, it is illegal to possess or use them in the City of Cedar Park and within 5,000 feet (just under a mile) of the city limits without a special permit," officials said. "The Cedar Park Fire Department responds to several areas of Travis and Williamson Counties, which are not in the city limits but are part of the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Fireworks are illegal in those ETJ areas that are served by the Cedar Park Fire Department."

Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger added: "We realize that it can be confusing to know whether fireworks are illegal at your home if you live in an area just outside of Cedar Park City limits. But remember that if you live less than a mile from Cedar Park city limits you could be breaking the law. The safest thing to do is not use fireworks.”

Mallinger added that the City of Cedar Park has a zero tolerance policy regarding fireworks. That means police must issue citations to any violators, with the fine, including court costs, for possessing fireworks adding up to $189.

“The reason we have zero tolerance with fireworks is that we’ve seen serious injuries and property damage from them," Mallinger added. "What starts out as a good time can easily end in a tragedy and ruin the holiday season.”

Additionally, the Cedar Park Fire Department is asking residents to be extremely vigilant about preventing house fires during the holiday season and the colder winter months. This includes using extreme caution while cooking indoors and outdoors, heating homes and patio areas and decorating with holiday lighting.

“Holiday-related accidents range from people falling off of ladders while hanging lights, to loose clothing catching fire while they are cooking," the fire chief said. "We are asking our residents to help us keep our community safe and fire-free by being vigilant about their personal safety.”

The Cedar Park Fire Department joined firefighters from several other departments across the region a few years ago to make a video public service announcement called “Stop the Pop.” To see it, click here or watch it below:

>>> Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash