Abington FD bills homeowner for fireworks display

ABINGTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Firefighters had to stand by at an Abington home after the homeowner had already lit fireworks as part of a Fourth of July celebration.

The fire chief said the homeowner will be billed -- not fined -- for the fire detail supervising the display.

“I thought they looked like regular town fireworks that a city would put on,” said David Goode, a neighbor.

But the fireworks display neighbors saw in Abington was illegal, sending firefighters to the home.

“They came and said we had to shut it off,” said Franco Fazzolari, the homeowner.

Franco Fazzolari's family has been firing off fireworks in their backyard on the Fourth for a couple of years.

He didn't want to show his face but did want to show us how far he and his family went to make sure the show was safe.

“All the fireworks was secured and glued and taped down on the pallets and we wired them up safely and wrapped them up in aluminum foil and tape so that way there was no sparks flying,” said Fazzolari.

But this year's $3,500 display caught the attention of firefighters.

The chief said he couldn't confiscate the fireworks because they had already been lit. So he had to keep a fire engine, a captain and two firefighters at the home to make sure everyone was safe. And the chief said Franco's family is getting that bill.

“He said we may have to pay for the detail of the fire department, which I completely understand,” said Fazzolari.

For Franco, this year's show was the biggest and brightest but also his last if fireworks remain illegal in Massachusetts.

“I think that was a little great finale for town and we’ll leave it at that and if they do become legal we’ll be the first to get our licenses and do it the proper way,” said Fazzolari.

The fire chief says the bill will be more than $100.