Jun 3, 2009 7:39 am US/Eastern
Abington Cancels Fireworks For Safety Reasons
ABINGTON (WBZ) ―
Fourth of July fireworks displays have been cancelled or are threatened by economy-driven budget cuts in at least four Bay State communities: Abington and Randolph where they've already been cancelled, Walpole and Methuen.
Ron Sanders has found there are fireworks over Abington's cancellation by the fire chief for safety reasons.
"I'm very upset about it. We come every year, the night before. It's huge and it's wonderful. We love it," said Brenda Maliff of Rockland who takes her children.
This will be the third time in 33 years Abington's "Night Before the Fourth" has been cancelled, by local accounts. Fundraising shortages were blamed the first two times. This time, it's a fire department staffing shortage due to budget cuts.
The number of Abington's full-time firefighters has dropped from 33 last year to 21 with no call, or volunteer, firefighters.
Chief Arthur Pelland said most of his 21 firefighters would be at Memorial Field for the fireworks. An ambulance would also be staffed for the event, leaving three to cover the town of more than 15,000. "I could not justify bringing hundreds of pounds of explosives into town and leaving the rest of the town with less protection," said the chief.
But his decision not to issue a fireworks permit this year ignites objections from the Abington Firefighters Union. "We always have mutual aid. Surrounding communities always know when we're having the event and they're always on stand-by for us," explained Capt. John Nuttall, Pres. of Abington Firefighters Local 2080, who adds another reason not to cancel the state licensed fireworks: "People may use their own fireworks to celebrate which is illegal."
Chief Pelland says the Fourth of July usually brings more calls, sometimes for illegal fireworks. "I'm trying to look at this from the point of view of safety for the firefighters and the townspeople," he said.
Despite the objections and arguments of his union, the chief says he will not back down. He's standing firm on his decision and says his department will probably face more cuts in the near future: one to three full-time firefighters and the town's only substation may be closed.
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