Fireworks Safety for a Happy 4^th of July

Fourth of July is a time to celebrate, but it’s also the time with the most complaints about illegal fireworks. Most fireworks, including firecrackers, are illegal in the District. Here are the details. If you see or hear illegal fireworks, MPD recommends calling 911 so police and fire personnel can investigate the situation. More info on fireworks safety is here.

Follow these fireworks tips from the Metropolitan Police Department:

• Leave Fireworks to the Professionals. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals. If you plan to use fireworks, make sure they are legal.
• Be Extra Careful With Sparklers. Little arms are too short to hold sparklers, which can heat up to 1,200 degrees. Let your young children use glow sticks instead. They can be just as fun and don’t burn. Closely supervise children around fireworks at all times.
• Be Prepared for an Accident or Injury. Stand several feet away from lit fireworks. If a device does not go off, do not stand over it to investigate it. Put it out with water and dispose of it. Always have a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher nearby. If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don’t allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage.
• Keep your Dogs Inside. Fireworks can cause pets to panic and run away. The Washington Humane Society recommendations include keeping pets inside, remembering to keep their ID tags on, and creating a safe space for them to hide.

Brianne at the 14^th and Girard Park
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
14^th and Girard St. NW
6pm-7pm

 Stop by the park to chat with me about how I’m working to address public safety in the area, and any other topics you’d like to discuss. I’ll be there to answer your questions and talk about issues that matter to you.

Brianne on Your Block
Friday, July 22, 2016
8am-10am
Tynan Coffee and Tea
1400 Irving St NW

Join me for informal office hours in the community to chat one-on-one about issues that matter to you. The event is one of my Brianne on Your Block events, which are regular opportunities for Ward 1 community members to meet me at locations across the ward. Participants will sign in as they arrive, and we’ll speak in informal conversations about topics of interest.

In the most recent budget I secured funding for a Main Street program and a Clean Team in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant to keep the areas cleaner and safer for residents. I also secured funding for a Clean Team on Georgia Avenue. The Clean Team will mean a dedicated staff to help keep the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza clean and the Columbia Heights Metro surface area. The team will be trained in effective public safety measures that can help diffuse situations and can call for supportive services if needed – whether that’s addiction services or police or similar. The Main Street funding will establish a dedicated full time organization that is always thinking about how to make sure businesses in the corridor are a success and that serves as their advocate.

Learn More:

• Borderstan: Councilmember Nadeau Touts New Programs in Columbia Heights

Ward 1 is in the heart of the District and contains the neighborhoods of Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, U Street, Pleasant Plains, Park View, Shaw, LeDroit Park, Meridian Hill, Lanier Heights, Kalorama and more. Click here for a downloadable map of Ward 1.