Just as much as the big Macy's fireworks are tradition here in New York, so are the after hours 4th of July street-level fireworks that you more than likely tried to fall asleep to last night. Despite police warnings and the many videos showing amateur fireworks gone wrong, you can always count on someone in your neighborhood to light a few off. One tipster caught one such act on video, telling us that around 11 p.m. on South 3rd Street and Havemeyer, locals were "setting off fireworks at street level which were routinely flying out down the street, into buildings, and sometimes, perilously close to gathered crowds."
Our tipster added that he "personally witnessed it going on for at least an hour. I didn't see any cops or FDNY in my time watching." We contacted the FDNY to find out if any fires were started or limbs lost during the rockets' red glares last night, and spokesman Frank Dwyer told us, "We're still compiling everything from the weekend. At this time, I have no fatalities, no serious injuries to report, and no major fires related to fireworks. However, that video shows exactly how dangerous these fireworks can be and why they are illegal. It also shows why our fire marshals are out to remove illegal fireworks from the street."
