With Fourth of July festivities commencing later this week, many Corpus Christi residents will be watching fireworks displays scheduled for Thursday on the bayfront and North Padre Island.
About 80 Corpus Christi police officers will be working at the Mayor's 47th annual Fourth of July Big Bang Fireworks Celebration, said Capt. Timothy Frazier of the CCPD Traffic Section during a news conference held Monday afternoon at CCPD Main Station. The officers will be in charge of security and will guide pedestrians across Water Street and Shoreline Boulevard, he said.
Numerous patrols will also work on North Beach to help with traffic and fireworks patrol, the captain added.
In addition, a total of 150 to 200 Corpus Christi police officers will lead fireworks patrol from Thursday through Sunday in the North Beach and downtown areas, as well as Padre Island, and will take a no-tolerance policy on fireworks possession, Frazier said.
It is illegal to discharge fireworks within Corpus Christi city limits, including on the beach, and violators could be fined up to $2,000 per package of fireworks.
To report the illegal discharge of fireworks, residents should call 361-886-COPS (2677).
Anyone wishing to enjoy fireworks this holiday can attend the commercial firework displays at no cost, said Corpus Christi Fire Department Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Randy Paige.
The fire department encouraged anyone who celebrates with fireworks outside of city limits to follow specific precautions, including setting them outdoors only, lighting one firework at a time, keeping water or a hose nearby for emergencies and supervising children around fireworks.
This includes bottle rockets, which poses a fire hazard due to the proximity of dry vegetation, roofs and other structures.
He noted that all residents should ensure that they drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during the outdoor celebrations.
Paige said that another potential holiday hazard are barbecues, and that people who barbecue or grill should place the grill at least 10 feet away from flammable structures and always extinguish charcoals, wood and fires completely before leaving the area.
More than 100 officers will also patrol the beaches in two-man units, including those at Whitecap Beach and Bob Hall Pier, according to the police department.
"For the July Fourth weekend, our goal is to provide a safe environment for our visitors and our community," said CCPD Bravo Patrol Capt. Bradley Pici. "I liken that to our last event on Memorial Day weekend, when we had zero fatalities on the road due to our fantastic traffic division and officers who were out in full force, enforcing traffic violations.
"We'll be on the island full-force, along with the traffic division," he said. "We'll have drone operators out assisting us with responding quickly to emergencies.
"Of course, we will have no tolerance for DWIs," Pici said. "That's very important to us to keep our roads safe and keep people safe on the streets. We want to provide a safe environment for our community and our visitors."
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