A few fireworks-related injuries were reported in Anchorage over the night of New Year's Eve.
And the Anchorage Police Department fielded "tons of complaints" about fireworks use before, during and after the legal hours of 9:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, a spokeswoman said.
Providence Alaska Medical Center said it had a few cases of firework-related injuries at its Anchorage emergency room. That is about the same number as the hospital typically gets on New Year's Eve, said Ginger Houghton. She added that privacy laws prevented her from characterizing the nature of the injuries.
Fire Department EMTs responded to two separate injuries involving fireworks just before 11 p.m. Friday, said Don Tallman, lead dispatcher.
One incident occurred in the 16500 block of Nocolai Way in Eagle River, said Marlene Lammers, spokeswoman for the Anchorage Police Department, which also was called. It appeared that someone might have been holding a legal firework that resembles an artillery shell when the firework went off. The person, a male, was taken to a hospital with hand injuries, she said.
The other incident that Anchorage EMTs responded to occurred in the Anchorage Bowl, Tallman said. The injured person was treated at the scene but not taken to a hospital, he said, adding that privacy laws prevented him from further describing the incident.
Fireworks started no fires that the department responded to, Tallman said.
Dr. David Cadogan with Alaska Regional Hospital reported no fireworks injuries taken to that hospital's emergency room.
Police spokeswoman Lammers said dispatchers received "tons of complaints" throughout the night about fireworks use. People wanted the mayor's phone number, they wanted their Assembly person's phone number, they wanted the noise to stop.
Police issued no citations and made no arrests, she said.
Last month, the Anchorage Assembly, on a 7-4 vote, approved fireworks use only from 9:30 p.m. New Year's Eve to 1 a.m. New Year's Day.
Assembly Chairman Dick Traini sponsored the change, saying the city wasn't enforcing the previous fireworks ban, anyway. Some Assembly members opposed the change in part because of how fireworks can disturb people and pets.
Mayor Dan Sullivan had reservations about the change but didn't veto it. Because the fireworks law expires automatically in two years, it's worth giving a try to see how it works, his spokeswoman said at the time.
The Mat-Su Borough also allowed fireworks use for the first time in years. The hours for legal personal use of fireworks were from 6 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday everywhere except Houston, where personal use is allowed year round.
Tim DeSpain, spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers, said the troopers got only a few fireworks-related calls, "and these came in after 1 a.m." He said he was unaware of any arrests.
By BILL WHITE
bwhite@adn.com