Complaint ID 109818 — Public Copy

Fireworks are recreational and exempt practice and are not part of the burn ban. After communicating with local officials, it was determined that no current violations of the burn ban are noted. Emailed complainant to inform of our findings and provide information of exempt practices under burn ban. No further actions necessary at this time. Complaint to be closed.

Complainant's response: To: Chris Kendrick <chris.kendrick@paulding.gov> Cc: Joey Pelfrey <joey.pelfrey@paulding.gov>, "Brandon P. Newsome" <brandon.newsome@paulding.gov>, "Bob.tatum@dnr.ga.gov" <Bob.tatum@dnr.ga.gov> Date: 08/06/2024 8:05 PM EDT Subject: RE: Requesting Investigation due to Concerns about Toxic Smoke from Dylan Rediger's Fireworks Mr. Kendrick, To be clear, I never raised one concern about the allowable timeframe for fireworks. Never. I am exceptionally clear that Paulding County allows the igniting of fireworks all day up until 11:59P. Please do not minimize or disregard my concerns about toxic air pollution. My expressly-stated concern has to do with the release of toxic chemicals into the air. While 1.4G fireworks are not as powerful as professional-grade 1.3G fireworks, they still contain explosive materials. Additionally, the particulate matter (PM) emitted by fireworks can be more toxic than typical urban PM. If I am to read your response correctly, you are aware that 1.4G fireworks emit toxic particulate matter that is adversely affecting our health, but you have no intention or authority to stop it. I need to be very clear because you did not answer my questions about toxic air pollution from Mr. Rediger's fireworks, and Georgia EPD has not added my Air Quality complaint to the public database. The EPA agrees that fireworks emit high levels of barium and copper, while arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium were prevalent in the inversion smog. Prolonged exposure to these substances can cause various health problems, ranging from asthma to cardiovascular disease and exacerbate existing medical conditions. You are essentially telling me that even though you, Mr. Pelfrey, Mr. Newsome, and Mr. Tatum know that particulate matter emitted by fireworks is toxic, the State of Georgia offers no protections from exposure to these hazardous chemicals. If I am understanding your response to me, Mr. Rediger is free to continue releasing toxic chemicals that pollute the air and cause harm to my family. Please confirm this to be the case.

Emailed response from Paulding officials: On 08/06/2024 9:43 AM EDT Chris Kendrick <chris.kendrick@paulding.gov> wrote: Mrs. Sligh, In reference to your concerns about Mr. Rediger shooting fireworks, it has been determine that the fireworks are 1.4G consumer grade fireworks. All fireworks classified as DOT 1.4G (consumer fireworks) in Georgia are legal to purchase and use as stated O.C.G.A. Section 25-10-2. These are fireworks that you can legally buy in retail stores across Georgia. They were purchased at a local retail store in the county. In addition to other extended times authorized by state law, fireworks may be discharged in Georgia on any day beginning at the time of 10:00 A.M. and up to and including the ending time of 11:59 P.M. The discharging of the fireworks that Mr. Rediger shot were within the allowed times. Chris Kendrick Fire Investigations Battalion Chief Paulding County Fire Department 247 Industrial Way North Dallas, Ga 30132 678-383-3444

Email from Complainant Sent: Sunday, August 4, 2024 11:53 PM To: Bob.tatum@dnr.ga.gov; Joey Pelfrey <joey.pelfrey@paulding.gov>; Chris Kendrick <chris.kendrick@paulding.gov> Subject: Requesting Investigation due to Concerns about Toxic Smoke from Dylan Rediger's Fireworks Warning: This e-mail originated from outside the organization. Do not click links or attachments if you were not expecting this e-mail. On Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 9:14P to 9:58P, my neighbor, Dylan Michael Rediger, was igniting what I presume to be fireworks. The fireworks produced mini explosions, large flames and smoke and haze. The smoke and haze were near our home and also hovered over our home. We could smell the smoke from inside our home. Mr. Rediger previously ignited the same style fireworks on the evening of July 22, 2024. That activity was also captured on camera. As you know, Mr. Rediger was caught illegally burning for the fourth time on June 16, 2024 and issued his first citation of $135 from the Paulding County Marshal’s Office. Though Paulding County Firefighters met with Mr. Rediger on June 16, 2024 and declared in the official Fire Incident Report that the fire was extinguished while they were on the premises, Mr. Rediger continued burning throughout the night and into the following morning – an illegal burning event for which I provided notice to Paulding County Senior Fire Investigator, Chris Kendrick, and Georgia EPD Environmental Specialist, Bob Tatum. To date, neither has provided an explanation for the conflicting information and why Mr. Rediger was allowed to continue burning after firefighters departed. With regard to the fireworks, I am extremely concerned that the smoke released into the air may be toxic. Fireworks emit high levels of particle pollution, and everything that I have read, including information from the EPA, states that air pollution from fireworks is indeed toxic. In fact, the smoke that lingers after fireworks hangs in the air and has a “significant” impact on health. Fireworks are often laced with toxic chemicals and heavy metals such a nitrogen, sulfur, cadmium and copper. And in people with heart disease, short-term exposures to the smoke from fireworks have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. The smoke and flames coming from Mr. Rediger’s fireworks is unlike anything that I have ever seen in residential neighborhoods. In the past, the Paulding County Fire Dept. and EPD were not interested in viewing any videos or photos of Mr. Rediger’s illegal burning events, even when accelerant concerns were raised. However, I am attaching the videos from yesterday and am requesting that you investigate this matter. While Paulding County Fire and EPD concluded that Mr. Rediger was burning “unknown” brush on June 16, 2024, I will not accept an “unknown” answer for his fireworks and have my case immediately closed. I am clear that Paulding County allows fireworks until 11:59P, but I am asking about toxic smoke from his fireworks. I am specifically requesting that your offices investigate as I need to know the following: What types of fireworks were used by Mr. Rediger for the entire duration on August 3, 2024? I need the manufacturer, product name, upc codes, and photos of the fireworks. What are the chemical compounds of his fireworks? I know perchlorate is common because it helps to facilitate upward propulsion. Unfortunately, perchlorate debris is often left scattered across the ground, contaminating soil and water. I am greatly concerned about our German Shepherd who developed acute unexplainable nosebleeds within the past year. Where, specifically, were the fireworks purchased and did they come with instructions for use or warnings? Is there any labeling listing chemical compounds? If Mr. Rediger did not purchase them, how did the fireworks come into his possession? How many different types of fireworks did he use on the evening of August 3, 2024? If he is storing his fireworks, are they being stored anywhere near our home? Are his fireworks posing a threat of fire should their embers and sparks land on our property (deck, roof, grass, trees, etc.) or in the wooded area behind our homes? And under which weather conditions would embers and sparks produced by his fireworks have a greater chance of leading to fire? How far do his fireworks project? Some fireworks can project up to 100 feet while more explosive fireworks upwardly project up to 1,000 feet into the air. How long does smoke from his fireworks last? Research indicates that smoke from fireworks can linger for hours. What chemical toxins were released into the air by his fireworks? How are atmospheric heat content, surface air temperature and air visibility affected by Mr. Rediger’s fireworks? If Mr. Rediger’s fireworks are indeed causing toxic air pollution, which agency is responsible for permanently stopping it? When will it be permanently stopped? When and how will I be notified? My mother and I are still medically dealing with the effects of smoke inhalation from Mr. Rediger’s June 16, 2024 illegal burning. My 79 year-old mother, who turns 80 next month, has suffered far worse than I, and I am fighting for her safety, health and life with everything that I have. This ordeal with Mr. Rediger’s illegally burning releasing toxic smoke has been ongoing since June 2023, and I refuse to allow the EPD and Paulding County Fire to treat us as less than by continuing to disregard our valid concerns for our safety, health and lives. Environmental Protection agencies and Fire Departments are responsible for providing equal safety protections for all people in the United States. EPD and Paulding County Fire are either unable to stop Mr. Rediger or are electing not to stop him. Either way it is entirely unacceptable with the latter showing indifference to the safety and well-being of human life. There are many tools at your disposal to investigate Mr. Rediger’s use of fireworks and the chemicals released into the air. If you don’t have these tools readily available, there are federal agencies with whom you can consult or partner to assist in the investigation. For any agency where protecting public safety is paramount, choosing inaction and indifference are not options. I won’t accept EPD abruptly closing this case if Mr. Rediger tells your offices that he does not know what type of fireworks he used or where he purchased them. Because this is his second time igniting fireworks of this nature within a very short span, I am reasonably worried about his propensity to continue such activity. The extent of EPD enforcement since June 2023 consisted of advising me to keep calling 911 each time there is an illegal burn and sending Mr. Rediger a courtesy letter on August 15, 2023 which ultimately thanked him for "his cooperation in helping to protect our environment" when he had repeatedly violated State Law and County Ordinance by illegally burning. Based on the last Fire Incident report for Mr. Rediger’s June 16, 2024 illegal burning event, I am uncomfortable dealing with Paulding County Fire. This is very unfortunate because no one in this nation should ever feel uneasy dealing with their local fire department. No one. The Fire Incident Report included a blatant untruth for which there is no reasoning. The report states that Mr. Rediger’s water hose was right next to the burn pit. Untrue. In my videos and photos of the illegal burn event, the water hose was not near the pit. In fact, Mr. Rediger had to carry the hose from his home to the pit when walking with the Firefighter. Further, in the photo that the Firefighters took and made part of public record, the water hose is nowhere near the burn pit. If such a detail like this can be wrongly reported and made official, I am fearful of what else may be wrongly included or excluded in subsequent reports. Additionally, the Fire Incident Report states that the fire was extinguished when video shows that it continued burning long after firefighters departed. Lastly, if Firefighters were unable to determine the type of brush Mr. Rediger was burning, it is doubtful they would have obtained necessary information about his fireworks. Thus, calling 911 would have served no purpose for my concerns about toxic smoke from his fireworks. Please understand that I am requesting a full investigation and am expecting specific answers. Exposure to and inhalation of toxic smoke is no trivial matter. Note: I will try to send the files in sets of five. Unfortunately, due to size restrictions, I may have to send these files individually, and I apologize in advance for any inconvenience that it may cause. I have clips showing activity for the entire duration as the fireworks were rapidly and repeatedly being ignited. Due to a default in the Blink app, the time stamp on the videos are in Greenwhich Mean Time (GMT) for clip time stamps, regardless of the local time zone. However, the matching clips in the Clip List show the local time zone. If you need a copy of the clip list, I can certainly provide it. I can also call Blink to see if this is fixable, but I'm not sure if it is or if it will be retroactively applied. Blink, however, can certainly verify the time stamps. Also, some children may be seen near the fireworks. If it is your policy to upload all videos to public record, please take every precaution to protect the privacy of children. Likewise, please take precaution and not redact my email address. Thank you.