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Posted on Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 1 p.m.

Police, fire agencies report no major incidents from Fourth of July celebrations

By John Counts

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Authorities reported no major incidents from Fourth of July celebrations.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

Police and fire agencies throughout Washtenaw County said Friday there were no major incidents resulting from Fourth of July celebrations Thursday.

Joyce Williams of Huron Valley Ambulance said only one minor injury was reported in the county. That was a child who suffered minor burns from a sparkler at 7:06 p.m. She was transported to a hospital by her parents, so authorities don't have record of where it occurred, Williams said.

Despite an ordinance that was passed in Ann Arbor to fireworks between midnight and 8 a.m. on July 3, July 4 and July 5, there were no more complaints than usual Sgt. Mike Scherba said.

“You have your residents who enjoy the holiday and you have those who don’t,” Scherba said.

There were, however, three firework complaints in parking lots on the University of Michigan campus, according to a U-M police crime summary. Police were called to the 2700 block of Hubbard at 10:36 p.m., to the 600 block of Thompson Street at 11:07 p.m. and to the 500 block of Liberty Street at 11:12 p.m. In all three incidents, people who were lighting off fireworks in the parking lots were told to move along, according to the summary.

Ypsilanti Township passed an ordinance similar to the one passed in Ann Arbor after receiving complaints during last year's celebrations, which was the first Fourth of July during which aerial fireworks were legal in Michigan.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office didn't report any major incidents in Ypsilanti Township or anywhere else in its coverage area, according to Sgt. Geoff Fox.

"The calls for service were comparable to years past," he said, adding that data about citations was not immediately available.

There were also no major incidents reported in Ypsilanti, said Sgt. Thomas Eberts.

The Ypsilanti Fire Department said it dealt with a dumpster fire that was unrelated to holiday activities, but that it was an otherwise uneventful evening.

Fire departments in Pittsfield Township, Scio Township, Ypsilanti Township, Dexter and Chelsea also reported no major firework-related incidents.

“It sounds like it was relatively quiet in the county,” said Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

JMA2Y

Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.

"It sounds like it was relatively quiet in the county," said Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason. Far from it! The neighborhoods in Ypsi at least have been extremely noisy for about two weeks leading up to the three day holiday. Then July 3 and 4 were horribly loud for hours on end. Thankfully, it was mostly quiet last night. We've had enough. I don't think fireworks of professional grade and loud noise should be allowed in neighborhoods where your neighbor is a few inches from your house and where trees are densely populated. Leads to too much noise that is too close that is difficult to drown out; and a fire risk as well (luckily it has rained recently.) Cities should create firework free zones and create areas where they can be let off like parks, parking lots, etc. And the state should revert back to less powerful and less noisy fireworks and get rid of the day before and day after ordinances. And July 4th should be the only day to set them off.

TryingToBeObjective

Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 3:44 a.m.

Heard fireworks in Scio Twp. until almost 2 am on the 4th, but wasn't worth the effort to get out of bed. Figured they would quit eventually. Hopefully the neighbors can repay the decency and not set them off all summer like they did last year when it was really dry. Fire is so not appealing. Since the Washtenaw County sheriffs are spread so thin, you have to pick your battles. Shut the windows, and kick on the AC.

Cash

Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.

Exactly. In short, we have given up.

a2citizen

Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.

Last night was great. Tonight is pretty annoying.

Gorc

Sat, Jul 6, 2013 : 1:41 a.m.

Nothing to report here....go read another article.

jcj

Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 11:17 p.m.

It seemed as though the fireworks did quit earlier than most years on the west side. I was surprised and pleased. No complaint here.

Linda Peck

Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.

It is a great relief to read this. This is risky business, but beautiful and dramatic. The fireworks at Maryfield Park were gorgeous, but wow, intense! Lots of smoke and they did last a long time. It was a lovely crowd. I enjoyed myself very much for the first hour and a half and then went home to listen to them continue long into the night. No complaints.

EyeHeartA2

Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.

Wait, what? I thought this was another Synder induced catastrophe, passed as part of his big business and anti education radical agenda. Well, hopefully things will turn out worse next year.

Homeland Conspiracy

Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 5:24 p.m.

I'm sure a few ppl will be disappointed with this

deletedcomment

Fri, Jul 5, 2013 : 6:20 p.m.

Agreed. It does not fit their selfish agenda.