Fireworks Prank Destroys U.S. Mailbox Along with Hundreds of Mail Pieces

A fireworks prank destroyed hundreds of pieces of mail that had been placed in a mail receptacle outside a Clarksville, Tenn., post office. A mailbox located outside the Ringgold Mill Post Office was found engulfed in flames around 2 a.m., when station manager, Luis Sierra arrived for work.

Sierra was able to put the blaze out using a fire extinguisher. Sierra’s quick action came too late to salvage the mail in the receptacle. It is estimated that 100 to 200 mail items were destroyed. Sierra told reporters that he was certain it was caused by fireworks due to the odor of sulfur.

Sierra told reporters that he opened the box while it was still burning, the heat was so intense from the metal it could have cooked meat. He says incidents such as this are the reason fireworks are banned in some places. Each year several pieces of mail are destroyed due to firework pranks such as this.

Postal Service officials request that anyone who used the second mailbox receptical located outside the Ringgold Mill Post Office contact them to aide in listing items that were lost and arrange for letters of lost mail.

Tampering or vandalizing a mailbox is a federal offense, which can be punished with up to twenty-five years in prison. No arrests have been made in connection with the prank, officials request that anyone having any information regarding the incident contact either the Ringgold Post Office or the Postal Inspection Service.

The city of Clarksville has a policy that fireworks are only permissible from July 1 through July 5 each year, and must be ignited between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Outside the city limits there are no fireworks restrictions.