Fireworks mayhem ruins Christmas and New Year’s Eve

By Jade Lawton and Lilly O’Gorman
ILLEGAL holiday fireworks have been blamed for starting a dangerous fire, frightening pets and disturbing residents across the district.
A blackmarket fireworks seller who was hawking his dangerous goods from a van, has been blamed for the recent spike in incendiary incidents.
Police were swamped with complaints as “hooligans” let off Christmas crackers of a different kind.
Pakenham resident Donna Kirkpatrick spent a frantic few days searching for her beloved staffy, Roxy, after unexpected Boxing Day fireworks were let off nearby.
“She climbed a fence as high as our roof and escaped,” she said.
“We heard them go off again the next night when Roxy was still missing and I wanted to kill them, to be honest. It’s fair enough if we get notice, we can lock our animals up, but when there is no notice it is really selfish.”
After papering the town with flyers and scouring animal shelters, Ms Kirkpatrick was reunited with two-year-old Roxy on New Year’s Eve.
“Since then we’ve had them locked up 24/7 … it’s too risky to let them out when there are hooligans letting off fireworks all the time.”
Police believe a wayward firework was also to blame for a fire behind Pakenham Op Shop in Station Street about 11pm on New Year’s Eve.
Pakenham CFA was called to contain the fire, which started in an abandoned mattress.
Detective-Sergeant Phil Jury, of Pakenham’s Criminal Investigation Unit, said there was a ‘large amount’ of fireworks over the holiday period and more probably went unreported.
“What people need to realise, apart from the danger of fireworks on a day of that temperature, is that (to let them off) without a licence is actually a criminal offence.”
Sergeant Brendan Thomas from Narre Warren Police Station said the station received a lot of complaints from the public about illegal fireworks in Berwick, although no fireworks were seized.
“It is a problem every year. The potential for injury can be quite severe,” Sgt Thomas said.
Fireworks were a topic of debate on the Gazette’s facebook page, with some people complaining of damage done by terrified animals.
“Please no more fireworks in Henty Park estate – two now crazy dogs and one pissed off house owner who now has a $2000 damage bill to flyscreens, security doors and a/c unit,” Mick Alexander wrote.
David Kennedy said he had had ‘a gutful’ of illegal fireworks that had been let off in Fallingwater estate over the last month.
“Wondering how much more our poor old dog can take. Not being a stick in the mud, but seriously concerned about our dog surviving the constant shocks right out the front door,” he said.
One resident said the spike in firework displays seen around town this year could be attributed to a man who allegedly drove around the district offering to sell fireworks just before Christmas. And while many defended fireworks as harmless fun, police have a different view. Penalties can range from a $500 fine to five years’ imprisonment for possessing and using fireworks.