A 47-year-old New Britain woman is facing charges after police say a Fourth of July backyard fireworks display caused more than $14,000 in damage to her neighbor’s property.
On July 4, Central Bucks Regional Police responded to two fireworks complaints from a homeowner in the 70 block of Sioux Road.
The couple told police that earlier in the day a man they did not know came to their door to have a conversation about a fireworks display that would be taking place that evening. The couple expressed concerns about potential damage from the display and afterward were under the impression the fireworks wouldn’t be set off, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
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While at the property, the officer reported seeing a large fireworks display taking place directly behind the homeowner’s property.
As fireworks were discharged, the officer reported seeing, and feeling, debris falling, the affidavit said. The officer also reported the noise was so loud it was hard to hold a conversation.
When the officer walked to the front of the home, a small portion of what appeared to be a mortar was on the homeowner’s driveway next to a Volkswagen, the affidavit said.
The Sioux Road homeowner told the officer his roof was replaced less than two months earlier and he would be getting an estimate for a full roof cleaning. The man also alleged that an auto body repair shop estimated his three cars sustained nearly $14,000 in damages from fireworks debris.
The night of the incident, the officer went to the home where the fireworks display was taking place in the 60 block of Iroquois Avenue and spoke with a woman who said she was “in charge,” the affidavit said.
The officer reported the rear of the Iroquois property was covered in debris and there were wood platforms with empty cases of fireworks less than 150 feet from two vehicles parked in the backyard.
The woman is charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, and three summary charges of discharging fireworks within 150-feet of a building or vehicle.
The New Britain woman is the second person in Bucks County this year to face charges after fireworks fun resulted in property damages.
A 28-year-old Hulmeville man is facing misdemeanor charges after the firework he set off caused more than $4,000 in property damage after setting fire to 10 trees at a Langhorne shopping center.
In Pennsylvania consumers can purchase and use both "Class C" or "consumer-grade" fireworks, which includes firecrackers, roman candles, bottle rockets and other fireworks not exceeding 50 milligrams of explosive material.
But igniting or discharging fireworks on public or private property without express permission from the property owner or within 150 feet of a building or vehicle is prohibited.
Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
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