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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 0724INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2023 r� Page 1 of 6 r YA SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS The purpose of this Informal Report is to inform Mayor & Council of the upcoming plan to communicate and manage illegal fireworks on and around the 4" of July. This is a joint effort between the Fire, Police, and Communications departments. The Fireworks Enforcement Detail will staff the JEOC daily from 6:00 pm until 2:00 am on Saturday, July 1s', Sunday July 2nd, Monday July 3rd, and Tuesday July 4t". The fireworks detail is a collaborative compliance and enforcement effort coordinated by the Joint Emergency Operations Center and staffed by the following city departments and external partners: - Fire Department o Office of Emergency Management ■ RACES o Operations o Arson & Bomb Unit o Community Risk Reduction o Bureau of Fire Prevention o Fire Alarm Office o PIO/Communications Team o Radio Shop - Fort Worth Police Department o SEER o Traffic o Fusion Center o Homeland Security - MedStar - Transportation & Public Works - Parks and Recreation - Tarrant Regional Water District (Panther Island Unified Command Post) Primary Goals: To ensure that Fire Operations and the Fort Worth Police Department resources are available to respond to emergencies and high priority calls for service; to provide adequate messaging on firework safety; fireworks are illegal in City of Fort Worth; and the firework reporting resources/tools through media outlets (digital, social and traditional) leading up to and during the holiday weekend. Firework Reporting Resources/Tools: These include the hotline, the web reporting tool and the MyFW App. o The hotline is a dedicated phone line to report fireworks. The intent of this dedicated phone line is to prevent the 9-1-1 system from being the primary contact method for the public. Instead, they call 817-392-4444 to report. o The web reporting tool is a web -form located at "reportfireworks.fortworthtexas.gov" where residents can go online and report fireworks o The MyFW App is accessible by any smart phone where residents can report fireworks through the menu option that is available for firework reporting. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2023 r� Page 2 of 6 r YA SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS Media Messaging: Digital: Clear Channel has donated the use of digital billboard signage to remind public that fireworks are illegal in the City of Fort Worth (Loop 820 SE NS/Anglin, Tom Landry HWY/Randol Mill Rd, 1-35W/Alsbury Rd, Airport FWY/Carson); market value $5,638; total views/impressions —723,457 people. Social: All Fire Department social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor (as well as the Office of Emergency Management social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram) will push out daily messaging beginning Wednesday, June 28th and will continue until the July 4'" holiday. ■ Graphics: English and Spanish graphics will promote firework safety dangers and hazards; the importance of reporting fireworks through outlets other than 9-1-1; remind public that fireworks are illegal in the City of Fort Worth. Traditional: The Fire PIO will be available for any and all media interviews including television and radio to address safety/dangers of fireworks; the importance of reporting fireworks through outlets other than 9-1-1; remind public that fireworks are illegal in the City of Fort Worth. Social Media Graphics: ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 �0, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council i W?V SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY 16's OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS Download the MyFW app to your smartphone. Once the page has Loaded, click on the red banner at the bottom to report fireworks violations. June 6, 2023 Page 3 of 6 Descargue la aplicacion'MyFW' en su 0 telefono inteligente. Una v e z que la pagina se haya ,ae4„asp cargado, haga clic en el banner rojo en la parte © inferior para informar „o violaciones de fuegos Aege artificiales. a FAa Res817-392-4444 Liame a: ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council i W?V SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY 16's OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS Official Statement by the Fort Worth Fire Department Regarding Fireworks Operations & Safety: June 6, 2023 Page 4 of 6 The Fort Worth Fire Department is gearing up for Fourth of July operations and reminds our residents that the possession, sale or discharge of fireworks in the City of Fort Worth is illegal. Between July 1" and the 6" of 2022, we received over 4,500 calls reporting fireworks. We also receive a marked increase for our most common calls that include Grass Fires, Structure Fires, Trash Fires and Traumatic Injuries. In order to continue to provide the quickest response possible to emergency calls, we ask that our residents use the Non -Emergency Fireworks Hotline to report fireworks. Residents can call 817-392-4444 or online at reportfireworks.fortworthtexas.gov. We stress, that if you have an emergency to report, please continue to call 911. We wish all our residents and visitors a happy and safe Fourth of July. All Council offices will be provided with messaging and graphics that can be used for social media or newsletters. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council i WrV SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY 16's OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS Timeline for 2023 (Compared to 2022 Operations): June 6, 2023 Page 5 of 6 The Fire Public Information Office began messaging on June 19'" with the initial introduction of the fireworks reporting resources/tools. • The Fire Public Information Office will begin messaging on June 19'" with the initial introduction of the fireworks reporting resources/tools. The Fire Public Information Office will begin daily messaging on June 27'n The Fire Public Information Office will begin twice daily messaging on June 3& through July 4'n The Fire Public Information Office reached over 120,000 people through social media messaging (and an additional 275,000 people through NextDoor) in 2022 • It is unknown the number of people that will be reached in 2023 but the Fort Worth Fire Department accounts on all social media platforms (including the Office of Emergency Management accounts) have increased in followers substantially. Fort Worth Fire Department and Police Department Joint Messaging: • FWFD and FWPD Public Information Officers and their respective departmental Communications Teams will have a coordinated and joint messaging operation. The Fire Department will take the lead and the Police Department will provide the same messaging (focusing on the illegality of fireworks in the City of Fort Worth). • All safety messaging will be produced by the Fire Department and redistributed by the Police Department; all media requests for "safety tips" and operational firework activity will be fielded by the Fire Department. A Fire PIO will be in the JEOC each operational period and will relay any and all pertinent information for public dissemination to the Police PIO(s) and other City of Fort Worth Departmental PIOs if the situation warrants. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0724 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2023 Page 6 of 6 WrV SUBJECT: CITY OF FORT WORTH FOURTH OF JULY 16's OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS Permitting of Public Firework Displays 1. What are the rules and setbacks for fireworks? • Based on the International Fire Code and NFPA 1123 Standards. • Setbacks for outdoor aerial mortar shells of the display site shall be 70 ft/in. of the internal mortar diameter of the largest aerial shell to be fired. • This is the minimum site radius allowed by the city of Fort Worth for application approval. • 3" shell would require a_minimum 210' radius from the firing location. (Most Common) • 4" shells are also very common with a minimum 280' radius. • 6"shells are usually only used on the bigger, more elaborate displays such as Fort Worth Fourth. 2. How do these rules and setbacks apply to private clubs that have fireworks displays? • The rules and setbacks are the same and enforced the same at any location in the city of Fort Worth. • A person or organization wanting to have a pyrotechnic display contracts with a licensed State of Texas pyrotechnic company to design and produce the display. • The licensed pyrotechnic company coordinates all aspects of the display while meeting the conditions of the issued permit • A FD representative is present at the event who physically inspects to insure that all requirements of the issued permit are met. This includes product selection, safety distances and exclusion zones, and weather concerns. This representative stays on -site throughout the show, is in direct contact with the license holder and has the authority to stop the display at any time for any reason that we deem necessary. • Most firework displays occur prior to 10PM. o There are certain locations that are exempt from noise ordinance. The Fire Department issued 170 pyrotechnic display permits in 2022 within CFW. We have no jurisdiction for any area outside the city limits and currently Tarrant County does not require any type of permit for pyrotechnic displays. If you have any questions on this report please contact Chief Jim Davis, Fire Chief, Fort Worth Fire Department, at 817-392-6801 or lames.davis@fortworthtexas.gov or Chief Neil Noakes, Police Chief, Fort Worth Police Department at 817-392-4212 or neil.noakes@fortworthtexas.gov. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS