Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Fireworks "Flying Down The Street" In Williamsburg
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 5, 2011
Modified Jul 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 5, 2011
Modified Jul 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just as much as the big Macy's fireworks are tradition here in New York, so are the after hours 4th of July street-level fireworks that you more than likely tried to fall asleep to last night. Despite police warnings and the many videos showing amateur fireworks gone wrong, you can always count on someone in your neighborhood to light a few off. One tipster caught one such act on video, telling us that around 11 p.m. on South 3rd Street and Havemeyer, locals were "setting off fireworks at street level which were routinely flying out down the street, into buildings, and sometimes, perilously close to gathered crowds."
Our tipster added that he "personally witnessed it going on for at least an hour. I didn't see any cops or FDNY in my time watching." We contacted the FDNY to find out if any fires were started or limbs lost during the rockets' red glares last night, and spokesman Frank Dwyer told us, "We're still compiling everything from the weekend. At this time, I have no fatalities, no serious injuries to report, and no major fires related to fireworks. However, that video shows exactly how dangerous these fireworks can be and why they are illegal. It also shows why our fire marshals are out to remove illegal fireworks from the street."
Tagged
brooklyn
explosions
fireworks
street level
williamsburg
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 12:55 p.m. ET
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .