Pittsburgh beefing up security presence for Downtown celebrations this weekend

With full-blown Fourth of July celebrations back for this year’s holiday weekend, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials are stepping up security for events Downtown and in Point State Park.

After the pandemic canceled celebrations in the city last year, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said as many as 200,000 people are expected to crowd into Downtown and Point State Park for fireworks and other activities on Saturday and Sunday.

“We expect this to be one of the busiest nights of the year with people eager to gather together after a challenging time,” Hissrich said. “But Public Safety’s primary focus will always be to protect residents and visitors so they can safely enjoy Independence Day with their families and friends.”

Hissrich said there will be more than a dozen mobile light towers at key locations to increase visibility Downtown. Also, Pittsburgh police, state police and Allegheny County Mounted Units will be activated to keep crowds moving and allow first responders to reach people in the event of an emergency.

As part of the effort to head off rowdiness, Point State Park Rangers will help Pittsburgh Police with bag screenings at the Park’s entrances.

This morning, Mayor @billpeduto joined @ACE_Fitzgerald & @PghPublicSafety to discuss security plans for #Pittsburgh’s #IndependenceDay celebrations.

The Mayor & County Executive urged all residents to celebrate safely & responsibly. pic.twitter.com/8c5SxlpJCE

— Office of the Mayor (@TheNextPGH) July 2, 2021

The fireworks are scheduled to end at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Hissrich said police will be working with Port Authority personnel to move people out of the Downtown core as quickly as possible to reduce problems related to overcrowding in some areas at the end of the evening.

Two River Rescue boats will patrol the rivers with Pittsburgh EMS, Police and Fire personnel on board. The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources will close the Point State Park wharves to boat mooring on the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers on July 4.

Medical units with the Pittsburgh EMS will also be operating near viewing points in the city including Mt. Washington, the North Side and Downtown.

With a forecast of temperature in the 80s and mostly sunny skies, officials have expressed concerns about heat-related illnesses.

“Things that either increase the amount of heat we are making or decrease our ability to get rid of the heat will put us at risk for having a complication, whether that is heat exhaustion or heat stroke,” said Dr. Donald Yealy, chief medical officer of UPMC. “We become dehydrated from not drinking enough fluids or drinking the wrong fluids … alcohol is the wrong fluid, as it goes out quickly.”

Yealy also issued a reminder that the pandemic is not over and those who are not vaccinated should wear a mask to crowded celebrations, even those that are outdoors.

“If you’re fully vaccinated, that’s not a concern,” he said. “But if you’re not, please wear that mask.”

Finally, though sales of consumer fireworks are legal, officials say they remain a safety concern. As part of the effort to curb the illegal use of fireworks within 150 feet of any structure, Hissrich said the Fireworks Task Force will continue its enforcement efforts until July 5.

“And please, remember your pets,” said Hissrich. “Fireworks can startle pets, which are more sensitive to loud noises and flashing lights, sometimes causing them to run away or hide.”

Earlier this week, police said they also planned to step up patrols throughout the weekend in the city’s South Side neighborhood.