GREEN BAY (WGBA) -- The Green Bay Police Department say the responded to 113 calls for fireworks over the holiday weekend. They say the main reason seems to be people wanting to enjoy fireworks while not being able to go to an in-person show.
"We have been telling people to stay home and stay safe," said Kevin Wayrch, with the police department. "It seems people still wanted to have a fireworks show. It is an assumption right now and we don't report on assumptions, but early inclinations point to that."
Police say the number of calls is a lot higher than in years past. They did not issue any citations and no one was injured. They did however issue seven warnings, and the fire department reported over $191,000 in damage - all tied to illegal firework use.
"We want people to know fireworks can be dangerous," Warych said. "I know it is a tough year, but please leave it to the professionals."
The City of Green Bay canceled their Fireworks over the Fox River this year over concerns of COVID-19. In Green Bay, it is illegal to light a firework that launches and explodes in the air, unless a permit is issued.
However, police face an issue when it comes to enforcing this rule. The officer has to actually see someone light the firework to issue a citation. They say most of the time the people are gone by the time the complaint comes in.
"It makes it really hard," Warych said. "If all we find is just the evidence, we can't issue a citation to the house. It has to be the person."
