Authorities Investigate Fireworks & Porta-Potty Fire in Johnson City
Broome County Emergency Services officials are reporting a slew of fireworks complaints overnight June 21 in the region.
While there were complaints in Johnson City, it’s not clear if fireworks are to blame for an explosion and fire at a porta-potty at a multi-family home on Grand Avenue.
Firefighters were called shortly before 11:30 p.m. to the three-story, two-family house. There were no injuries.
Meanwhile, authorities are at a loss to explain the sudden outbreak of celebrations with fireworks. The problem has been cropping up in many communities with Syracuse even putting together a small force to respond to complaints while trying to keep adequate staff of law enforcement officers ready to respond to more serious incidents.
While some kinds of fireworks, like sparklers and small firecrackers, are now legal in New York, anything that shoots into the air and explodes is still illegal and individual communities can ban fireworks altogether.