Honolulu rings in new year with less emergency calls

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HONOLULU (AP) — First responders in Honolulu said emergency calls in the days surrounding New Year’s Eve were less compared with last year.

HONOLULU (AP) — First responders in Honolulu said emergency calls in the days surrounding New Year’s Eve were less compared with last year.

The Honolulu Fire Department responded to 284 calls on Oahu during the celebration this week, compared with 322 calls last year. About one-third of 66 fire calls were related to fireworks, fire officials said.

Capt. Terry Seelig, a fire department spokesman, said the fireworks-related fires were minor, mostly in dumpsters and small grassy areas.

Paramedics responded to two fireworks injuries compared with five last year, officials said. A 5-year-old boy had minor burns to his hand and wrist because of fireworks. He was treated at a fire station. And a 25-year-old man suffered serious burns after playing with an aerial firework.

Paramedics also responded to 11 calls of people complaining of respiratory problems, compared to six last year.