WEST HARTFORD, CT — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and the West Hartford Fire Department Wednesday started the July 4 holiday weekend celebrations a day early — even setting off some fireworks outside.
But they were not merely whooping it up during another Independence Day celebration.
They were celebrating a massive federal funding package for fire departments nationwide and urging folks to be safe when doing their own celebrations, especially regarding fireworks, this holiday weekend.
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Blumenthal, D-Conn., was at the WHFD’s Fire Station No. 4 on Albany Avenue Wednesday to discuss the recent passage of the “Fire Grants and Safety Act” and urge fireworks safety.
“There will be needless tragedies this weekend,” Blumenthal said during the event’s proceedings, recounting an incident last year when a teenage girl in Connecticut was in intensive care after being hit with an illegal exploding mortar-type firework.
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He said Connecticut state law is strict about fireworks, namely sparklers/fountain fireworks are legal, while explosive ones are not.
But, Blumenthal said, holding up a package of legal fireworks, the danger doesn’t go away just because they’re allowed in Connecticut.
“You can purchase the legal ones. They tell you they are ‘safe and sane,’ but at the same time, they emit a frenzy of sparks and multicolor effects that snap and crackle,” he said. “So, safe and sane? Maybe if you use them with the right precautions of care. But a lot of people won’t.”
As for homemade, explosive fireworks and how folks post how-to guides on making them on social media, Blumenthal said those are to be avoided at all costs.
“Beware of homemade fireworks. They can be like bombs, blowing off limbs, causing severe burns. I call on TikTok and other social media to take down those do-it-yourself kinds of posts where people are instructed, supposedly, on how to make super sparklers or bombs or other kinds of homemade fireworks,” Blumenthal said. “They are, literally, dangerous beyond words.”
Following his talk on fireworks, Blumenthal went outside — under the supervision of firefighters — and lit off fountain fireworks, as well as a sparkler.
He showed, despite that particular type of fireworks’ legality in the state, they can still be dangerous and cause burns, especially to children left unsupervised.
While Blumenthal didn’t get burned, others — he said — might not be so lucky.
As for the recently passed federal legislation, approved in both the U.S. House and Senate and signed by President Joe Biden, Blumenthal said it authorizes millions of dollars in grants to local fire departments for updated safety equipment and training.
In addition, it will fund recruitment and training initiatives, which are vital to a fire department’s long-term future.
West Hartford, for example, stands to gain about $400,000 from the initiative, Blumenthal said.
Specifically, the act increases the coffers of the “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response” (SAFER) grant program and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
Blumenthal said the bill authorizes $1.6 billion annually through fiscal year 2028 for these and other fire safety programs.
Connecticut fire departments, including West Hartford, receive these funds to improve their staffing levels, purchase new equipment, and provide updated training, he said.
During his visit to West Hartford, Blumenthal joined WHFD Chief Greg Priest in highlighting recently made public safety videos by the Connecticut Career Fire Chief’s Association.
Those videos, which are being circulated throughout the state, cover fire safety and are meant to educate the public.
Priest said he was proud West Hartford was chosen to be a backdrop for Blumenthal’s July 4 event.
“We could not be more pleased that the senator and others have seen fit to use West Hartford as the backdrop for today’s announcement,” Priest said.
According to Priest, West Hartford’s status as a growing, desirable place to live, do business, and play makes public safety that much more important locally, as it is in any municipality.
“We’re a vibrant and growing community here,” Priest said. “We’re attracting people from all walks of life to live, learn, eat, and conduct business or enjoy our recreational options among many other things.
“Like communities across the state and nation, to support these activities and growth, there must be an effective safety net of emergency managers and emergency responders prepared and ready for any emergency.”
To view the Connecticut Career Fire Chief’s Association public service announcements on fire safety, click on this link.
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