THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026 Page 5 Leave Fireworks to the Professionals, State Fire Marshal Urges Fires and Serious Injuries Increased by Nearly 25% in 2025; One Fatality Reported S TOW—Fires, explosions, and serious injuries related to illegal fi reworks spike each summer in Massachusetts, and fi re service leaders are hoping to reverse last year’s increase over 2024. “Here in Massachusetts, fi reworks have caused nearly 500 fires and explosions, almost 200 serious injuries, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage over the past fi ve years,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “Tragically, one man even lost his life last summer. Please don’t risk a fi re, an injury, or a day in court — leave fi reworks to the professionals.” Of the 188 fi reworks-related CONSTRUCTION | FROM Page 1 Although the Building Committee is accustomed to hearing the project is underbudget, and promises to remain underbudget, Senior Project Manager Brian Dakin said the $7.8 million budget for technology and furniture will need to be increased by $1.5 million. Daken said the budget was developed a few years ago and market conditions have changed. An additional $500,000 was needed for technology with $1million going toward furnishing the building. “We wanted to make sure you know there is some turbulence down the road,” Dakin told the committee. The city’s Chief Financial Offi cer Richard Viscay who is also a member of the building committee, said he thought a $1.5 million jump on a $7.8 million budget was excessive and he asked to look over the numbers. visits to Massachusetts emergency departments from 2021 to 2025, 121 took place in July. July also accounted for 253 of the 486 fi res and explosions caused by fi reworks during the same fi ve-year period. Both injuries and fi res increased by about 23% last year, with 43 ER visits and 112 fi res and explosions — including one that claimed a 70-year-old man’s life in Wareham. Massachusetts law requires police to seize any illegal fi reworks they encounter in the course of their duties. This includes fireworks that were purchased lawfully in another state and transported to MasPerkins-Eastman also showed slides of the signs students and visitors will use to navigate the campus and the building. Signs in corridors will match each corridors specifi c color scheme. A large and dramatic wave-shaped donor panel where donors to the project can have their names posted was also presented to the committee. Perkins-Eastman also showed a map with the large field in front of the building now named Wonderland Field and the fi eld further off to the left, Patriots Field, and the Community Health and Wellness path. Those sections of the campus will have signs and maps for students and visitors. The committee is planning a site walkthrough on July 29. The project team expects more steel deliveries from Canada and a building that shows more of where it’s heading by the end of the month. Subscribe Your Local News in 6 Languages! www..advoadvocatenews.net to the Advocate Online! news.net sachusetts. People who use or possess them illegally are also subject to a fi ne, while the unlawful sale of fi reworks is an arrestable off ense that carries potential jail time. The law is eff ective: the Massachusetts fi reworks injury rate is about one-fifth the national average, and the rate of fi res and explosions is about one-sixth the national average. The Department of Fire Services posts a list of permitted fireworks displays and updates it each week through the summer. To view the list — and to learn more about the dangers of illegal fi reworks — visit the DFS website. Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657
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