Revelers Using Fire In Celebration Of Nowruz To Be Cited
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Inspectors with the Los Angeles Fire Department are expected to be out in force Tuesday night, issuing citations to anyone using fire to celebrate the traditional Iranian New Year, known as Nowruz.
Inspectors will focus primarily on public parks, although celebrations are also often held in backyards, Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Six people were seriously injured during last year's celebrations, Humphrey said.
Nowruz traditionally uses fire to "keep the sun alive" until morning.
People are "permitted to celebrate with fire, to use a candle or use a publicly approved fire pit, but there will be zero tolerance to play with fire or tempt fate by jumping over bonfires," Humphrey added.
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