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| Territory Day fireworks injure dozens and spark multiple blazes | Territory Day fireworks injure dozens and spark multiple blazes |
| (1 day later) | |
| Hospitalisations, grass fires, 300 tonnes of imported explosives – just a regular night of the Northern Territory celebrating self-governance. | Hospitalisations, grass fires, 300 tonnes of imported explosives – just a regular night of the Northern Territory celebrating self-governance. |
| The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where it remains legal to buy and set off fireworks but only on Territory Day, which this year fell on a weekend. | The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where it remains legal to buy and set off fireworks but only on Territory Day, which this year fell on a weekend. |
| Thousands attended the main Darwin event at Mindil Beach for a concert by Pete Murray and Killing Heidi before a professional fireworks display but elsewhere, and afterwards, Territorians went about creating their own. | Thousands attended the main Darwin event at Mindil Beach for a concert by Pete Murray and Killing Heidi before a professional fireworks display but elsewhere, and afterwards, Territorians went about creating their own. |
| On 1 July in the NT, between 6pm and 11pm, adults are largely unrestricted in their use of fireworks – ranging from small bungers to professional multishots. This year’s chaos across parks, beaches, backyards and even high-rise balconies led to 24 people in hospital with fireworks-related injuries, including a serious eye injury. | On 1 July in the NT, between 6pm and 11pm, adults are largely unrestricted in their use of fireworks – ranging from small bungers to professional multishots. This year’s chaos across parks, beaches, backyards and even high-rise balconies led to 24 people in hospital with fireworks-related injuries, including a serious eye injury. |
| A 12-year-old boy was airlifted almost 900km from Lajamanu to Darwin, after he sustained what Careflight called “a significant injury to his right eye, caused by a fire cracker”. | A 12-year-old boy was airlifted almost 900km from Lajamanu to Darwin, after he sustained what Careflight called “a significant injury to his right eye, caused by a fire cracker”. |
| CareFlight was alerted to the boy’s injury at 9.30pm on Saturday. He arrived in a stable condition at Royal Darwin Hospital around 4am. | CareFlight was alerted to the boy’s injury at 9.30pm on Saturday. He arrived in a stable condition at Royal Darwin Hospital around 4am. |
| The acting director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Charles Douglas, said it was concerning that more than half of the injured were bystanders, including eight children, one of them a nine-month-old baby. | The acting director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Charles Douglas, said it was concerning that more than half of the injured were bystanders, including eight children, one of them a nine-month-old baby. |
| “Firework injuries are totally avoidable,” he said. “People are not behaving responsibly.” | “Firework injuries are totally avoidable,” he said. “People are not behaving responsibly.” |
| These would have to be my favourite fireworks tonight!!! Thanks everyone for a great night! #TerritoryDay pic.twitter.com/r2qBuzHzsv | These would have to be my favourite fireworks tonight!!! Thanks everyone for a great night! #TerritoryDay pic.twitter.com/r2qBuzHzsv |
| Fireworks fun! #TerritoryDay #dotheNT #NTaustralia pic.twitter.com/OMAOiF5D72 | Fireworks fun! #TerritoryDay #dotheNT #NTaustralia pic.twitter.com/OMAOiF5D72 |
| In 2016 emergency services attended 93 disturbances involving fireworks, four structure fires, four vehicle fires, eight bin fires and 256 grass fires. | In 2016 emergency services attended 93 disturbances involving fireworks, four structure fires, four vehicle fires, eight bin fires and 256 grass fires. |
| Official figures haven’t been released for this year but the fire services incident map on Saturday night showed dozens of fires across Darwin and Palmerston. | Official figures haven’t been released for this year but the fire services incident map on Saturday night showed dozens of fires across Darwin and Palmerston. |
| HAPPY #TerritoryDay! pic.twitter.com/wCfyuwp6GM | HAPPY #TerritoryDay! pic.twitter.com/wCfyuwp6GM |
| Fire services watch commander Nick Bell said there was “no doubt” the number of callouts – more than 415 – was up on last year and incidents around Darwin included several car fires and at least one structural fire. | Fire services watch commander Nick Bell said there was “no doubt” the number of callouts – more than 415 – was up on last year and incidents around Darwin included several car fires and at least one structural fire. |
| “Two four-wheel-drives were burnt out,” he said. “A fire out the front of house in the storage shed area was completely burned out with all contents [burned]. That was a result of fireworks. | “Two four-wheel-drives were burnt out,” he said. “A fire out the front of house in the storage shed area was completely burned out with all contents [burned]. That was a result of fireworks. |
| “Multiple grass fires across the whole Top End and certainly in the Darwin metro areas. We also had a children’s play area totally burned out in the Palmerston area.” | “Multiple grass fires across the whole Top End and certainly in the Darwin metro areas. We also had a children’s play area totally burned out in the Palmerston area.” |
| One of the many #TerritoryDay fires in Darwin, along Dick Ward Drive. Video by Carrie Mulford pic.twitter.com/8DmJxWlAiY | One of the many #TerritoryDay fires in Darwin, along Dick Ward Drive. Video by Carrie Mulford pic.twitter.com/8DmJxWlAiY |
| Bell said there were contributing factors to this year’s higher incident rates, including the fact it was a Saturday, school holidays and an apparent increase in fireworks sold. | Bell said there were contributing factors to this year’s higher incident rates, including the fact it was a Saturday, school holidays and an apparent increase in fireworks sold. |
| “And it’s the middle of the dry season so very high fire danger,” he said. “Really a lot of these things is about the irresponsible use of fireworks and that’s the thing we discourage.” | “And it’s the middle of the dry season so very high fire danger,” he said. “Really a lot of these things is about the irresponsible use of fireworks and that’s the thing we discourage.” |
| Last week NT police released a video urging revellers to “not be stupid”. Past Territory Days gone wrong included several misfires into crowds, people holding fireworks in their hands and a sausage dog picking up a lit firework with its mouth and running around a yard. | Last week NT police released a video urging revellers to “not be stupid”. Past Territory Days gone wrong included several misfires into crowds, people holding fireworks in their hands and a sausage dog picking up a lit firework with its mouth and running around a yard. |
| More than 300 tonnes of fireworks were brought into the NT before the annual event and anything unused must be handed in by midday Sunday or face criminal penalties. | More than 300 tonnes of fireworks were brought into the NT before the annual event and anything unused must be handed in by midday Sunday or face criminal penalties. |
| Meanwhile, organisers of the 13th Fannie Bay ocean swim were confident the masses of explosions would have scared away a saltwater crocodile seen cruising in the area earlier in the week. The swim sees about 150 people enter either 1.2km or 2.1km races across the open bay near East Point, in Darwin’s north. | Meanwhile, organisers of the 13th Fannie Bay ocean swim were confident the masses of explosions would have scared away a saltwater crocodile seen cruising in the area earlier in the week. The swim sees about 150 people enter either 1.2km or 2.1km races across the open bay near East Point, in Darwin’s north. |
| The Darwin Surf Life Saving Club president, Ray Hall, said 30 lifeguard volunteers on surf skis and boards in the bay would also deter any curious crocs. | The Darwin Surf Life Saving Club president, Ray Hall, said 30 lifeguard volunteers on surf skis and boards in the bay would also deter any curious crocs. |
| He said the risks were worth it for the “bragging rights”. | He said the risks were worth it for the “bragging rights”. |