Wichita police officers and firefighters issued 88 citations for illegal fireworks in the city during the July 4th holiday weekend.
Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz said the citations were issued on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. There were ten teams, each consisting of two police officers and one firefighter, working in areas of the city that were identified as “hot spots” for fireworks activity. Ocadiz said some fireworks items were confiscated, including some items that were unopened.
Sedgwick County Emergency Communications Director Elora Forshee reported a total of 1,184 calls to the non-emergency hotline that was set up for fireworks complaints. The hotline was active in the evenings on July 1st through the 5th. She said the hotline had 1,075 calls a year ago.
Forshee said 911 had 1,999 emergency calls on July 4th, for house fires and various other emergencies.
