MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WSVN) — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials are investigating after, they said, an anonymous tip led them to a warehouse in Miami Gardens filled with illegal fireworks Tuesday night.
Crews responded to the scene at Sky King Fireworks, located at 17401 N.W. 2nd Ave. They said they found shelves and shelves of the illicit merchandise. "There are a number of illegal fireworks. Why they're illegal is because, in Miami-Dade County, you're not allowed to have any fireworks that explode or shoot," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesperson Michelle Fayed.
Fayed continued, "What's gonna happen here is, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has taken hold of the scene and will be confiscating all of the illegal fireworks over the next few days."
Miami Gardens Police are assisting in the investigation. Fire rescue officials had said they would confiscate the illegal merchandise beginning Wednesday. However, they said they would allow the business an opportunity to get rid of the fireworks themselves, first. "At this time I issued a cease and desist," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Alan Cominsky. "The building is not open to the public at this time for any sales. They'll have to go ahead and remove any of the unapproved sparklers or fireworks from the facility."
"We took millions of dollars worth of illegal fireworks off the streets," said Fayed. "This is going to keep hundreds, perhaps, citizens of Dade County and surrounding areas from occupying our hospitals on the Fourth of July."
Sky King employees told 7News they were taken by surprise. Employee Mitchell Fleischer deemed the county's intervention unfair. "That means I'm out of a job. My wife, who is in a hospital, who's got second-stage cancer … is telling me that they're going to put her on the street because I can't afford the proper care that she needs," he said. "I'm gonna lose my job over this? That's really great."
Sky King Fireworks will have to undergo an inspection before they can reopen and continue selling legal fireworks. "Fireworks and stuff, which we have seen in the facility, need to be removed from the facility before they can open to the public," Cominsky re-emphasized.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials are expected to investigate other stands, Thursday, to ensure the public's safety.