Future permits for fireworks up in the air

Trouble continues to brew in river city.

Sneads Ferrians, already embroiled in a battle over whether it should incorporate, and at odds over choosing property infringement over a fisherman’s heritage and livelihood, are now involved in an ugly clash over fireworks.

Sneads Ferry’s Community Council (SFCC), the sponsors the annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival and the town’s Fourth of July celebration, has to find a different fireworks purveyor this year.

Hale Artificier Fireworks, Inc., which has provided the fireworks displays for both events for the past six years opted out.

Its President, Jeffrey A. Hale, sent SFCC a letter Jan. 18, informing the council it would not provide the combustibles for either event this year, as a result of “a continuing struggle” with Sneads Ferry Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Gallagher.

“While there has never been an issue acquiring permits through the Onslow County Fire Marshall’s office, nor has there ever been any report of any incident, it has been a continuing struggle to appease your local Fire Chief, who has been a real thorn in his constant efforts to create issues with these programs,” Hale wrote in the letter.

“After much consideration, and speaking to my Operators that have been involved with the programs in your community, I have decided not to offer to provide our services in Sneads Ferry this year,” the letter states.

In the letter, it mentions that John Uhrick was resigning his position as chairman of the Sneads Ferry Community Council as result of some “unsubstantiated claims from the SFVFD,” (Sneads Ferry Volunteer Fire Department).

“That is not at all the reason …. he has nothing to with that at all, it was just a matter of timing,” Uhrick said, when questioned about his resignation.

When the Daily News asked him what “unsubstantiated claims” Gallagher allegedly made about him, and to explain the conflict between Hale and Gallagher, Uhrick would not comment.

“I can’t talk on record because I’m out of the whole situation,” he responded. “You will have to talk to Tim Supple about this.”

Supple, who replaced Uhrick as chairman, was not willing to talk on the record about the details of the discord, he would only say, “We’re aware of the letter — we’re working on issues right now. There is a meeting scheduled next Thursday with the fire department board. We’re tactfully trying to work this thing out. (We) are aware of the situation and trying desperately to resolve the situation and are in negotiations with another fireworks company.”

Gallagher says he has expressed his and the department’s concerns about Hale for several years and said his efforts and objections regarding Hale have to do with public safety.

“I never attempted to shut down the fireworks, all I want is a safe display,” Gallagher said. “To get a permit, a diagram is submitted on how and where the fireworks are to be placed. If they (Hale) followed the diagram they submitted, then they would be in compliance. But that is not the way they set up out there and the county has never come out to see it.”

Gallagher explained that there was an injury last year to one of his fellow firefighters at the scene during the Shrimp Festival, who got firework debris in an eye. He is also concerned because his crew found unexploded fireworks on the grounds and other dangerous debris the day after that fireworks display, which he feels should have been discovered and removed by Hale employees at a required after-inspection of the area.

Gallagher said he had submitted reports to SFCC over the years explaining his concerns over the fireworks and their close proximity to people, and also on issues he has had with parking that at times blocked and impeded the responders during emergency calls that came in during an event.

“I’ve presented an after action report to them (CFCC) with my concerns and I even gave them recommendations on fixing the problems, and they’ve thrown them in the trash without even looking at them,” Gallagher said. “I finally stopped doing them because I knew they weren’t going to read them.”

To ignite the matter further, a blog in an encToday.com Message Board has several pages of accusations and not-very-kind words posted about Gallagher, the SFVFD and the firework issue.

Gallagher feels there has been an attempt to discredit the SFVFD and ruin his credibility as a safety official. He said he has submitted a packet of documents to two attorneys and is seriously considering a liable suit against Uhrik over his alleged posts/allegations and against the SFCC on that blog.

Gallagher said he has also submitted a packet of documents to the Bureau of Alchol, Tobacco and Firearms and has requested they review and judge the legitimacy of his claims against Hale.

Hale would not discuss Gallagher’s firework allegations with The Daily News.

“We’re still investigating that with the Onslow County Fire Marshall’s office, so I am not going to discuss it,” Hale said.

He did say even though the company is not doing the Fourth of July shoot, they may consider doing the Shrimp Festival.

“We haven’t really scheduled a meeting yet (with SFCC), but we’re going to re-evaluate the situation, Hale said. “My primary objective is safety, and if there are safety issues, we’ll take a look at it.”

Onslow County Fire Marshall Don Decker referred The Daily News questions to Onslow Count Fire Code Enforcement, since they are responsible for issuing firework permits.

Code Enforcement Officer George Swarts went over the firework permitting process and he confirmed that a site inspection, to make sure the diagram submitted is followed, is required.

“We do site inspections prior to shoots,” Swarts explained. “We take the site plan, walk the site and take measurements before, and sometimes we have someone there during and after shoots.”

When asked if he could provide documentation to confirm that an inspection was done last year prior to each firework shoot in Sneads Ferry he responded, “I am not going to say yes, and I am not going to say no.”

He said there was one inspector qualified to do the inspections last year and there were six shoots on the Fourth of July.

“I can’t be in six places at one time,” Swarts said. He said there are two inspectors qualified in the department this year.

When asked if the department was aware of the injury to a firefighter last year and the unexploded fireworks left on the field at the Shrimp Festival he said, “They said someone got hurt. The chief called about the unexploded fireworks, but that is between the chief and the shooter. The shooter is responsible and in control of that. Was the firefighter inside the zone or outside the zone? We never got the information. It is up to them to get with the shooter and the shooter to take appropriate action. For six months there was not a word from anybody, so we didn’t know it was still an issue until we saw the letter.”

“Even if there was an issue last year, let’s move forward and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Swarts continued. “There will an extra information meeting this year before the shoot, and I assure you this year, if there are any questions from anybody, I’m going to be on site to answer that question.”

Swarts confirmed that he received a package from another fireworks company for a permit to put on a fireworks display the Fourth of July in Sneads Ferry.

“It was delivered Monday, we’re starting the review process now. Believe me, there will be many meetings before the permit is given, with the shooter and with Sneads Ferry Community Council.”

Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8466. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.