Passover Burning of the Bread Ceremonies

At sundown on April 3, the Jewish holiday of Passover will begin, but on Friday morning families and congregations throughout New York City will gather to burn the leavened products remaining in their homes. This tradition, while meaningful, brings with it an increased risk of fire and injury.

On Friday, April 3, 2015 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. there will be FDNY Engines patrolling in the communities of Kew Gardens/Hillcrest and Far Rockaway in Queens

Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. FDNY will also have units on stand-by at or near bread burning ceremonies at the following locations in Brooklyn:

Borough Park:

12th Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets
53rd Street between 13th and 14th Avenues
15th Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets
16th Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets
Avenue F between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street
18th Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets

Williamsburg:

Wallabout Street at Walton Street
Wythe Avenue at Clymer Street
Franklin Avenue between Wallabout and Heyward Streets

If none of these locations are near your home, please speak with your local congregation and find a place to safely observe the tradition.

Please follow these tips and share with your friends and family:

Keep extra close watch of children at this time.
If possible, set-up a buddy-system where an older child is placed with a younger child.
Never use any type of accelerant to increase the flame.
Never put any type of aerosol can or glass containers in or near the flame.

Find more Passover tips at: http://on.nyc.gov/1Ffalfu

For more fire safety information, visit: www.fdnysmart.org