This summer, I heard some version of the same comment over and over again: “Fireworks are getting louder and more out of hand every year!”
Besides being a topic of conversation with family and friends, I’ve heard it come up in multiple city council meetings I’ve attended.
“It doesn’t seem like the current status quo is a sustainable situation,” said one council member. “In densely populated areas, it’s loud. These are not the little firecrackers or bottle rockets that we threw as kids. M-80s used to be the big thing, but now I don’t think you’d even notice an M-80 due to the volume.”
The council member wasn’t wrong. M-80s explode at around 150 decibels. Many fireworks in the U.S. now are reaching 145 to 175 decibels. The World Health Organization has set the recommended volume limit for fireworks at 120 decibels, which is the loudest volume children may be exposed to without damaging their eardrums.
At a different meeting, one city clerk reported receiving many calls begging for a shorter time period during which fireworks may be shot off. Those people said fireworks disturb family members who developed PTSD after serving in the military, children with autism, and young children and pets.
Many suggestions were discussed, including changing ordinances regarding fireworks, limiting what types of fireworks can be used and stricter enforcement of existing ordinances.
The consensus seemed to be that if residents simply abided by the ordinances already in place, most complaints would disappear. But too many people are not.
City ordinances vary, but most allow fireworks for anywhere from one to seven days, and all usually have a nightly ending time around 11 p.m.
Sure, fireworks would probably still annoy families with earlier bedtimes, or those who have difficulty with loud noises. But they would be able to make alternative sleeping arrangements if they knew the noise was only going to last a night or two. They could sleep in their basement, rent a hotel room or stay with a friend. But when the fireworks are a nightly occurrence week after week, making alternate sleeping arrangements is not a feasible solution.
To my knowledge, the police will enforce fireworks ordinances if residents call and complain about their neighbors shooting off fireworks outside the acceptable window. But in my experience, nobody wants to call the cops on their neighbors for fireworks and be a party pooper. They simply wish their neighbors would voluntarily select fireworks that detonate at a reasonable volume, shoot them off before it gets too late and keep them limited to a few days surrounding Independence Day, and not for weeks on either side of the holiday.
People want their neighbors to have a good time with their families sharing in the American tradition of shooting off fireworks. However, they also want to be able to sleep soundly so they can go to work refreshed. They don’t want their animals to be terrified on a nightly basis for weeks. They don’t want their children to be woken up multiple times per night. They want their family members with PTSD to be comfortable in their own homes. Not unreasonable expectations.
Previously, my family lived in a neighborhood where most of our neighbors were well above retirement age. We were able to watch fireworks from our back porch, but once we were done watching, we were able to go back into our home without having any major disturbance to the rest of our evening. Yes, we could hear fireworks, but it wasn’t loud enough to keep us awake.
This year, however, we moved to a neighborhood that includes more younger families, and the difference was stark. Not only could we hear the fireworks LOUD and clear, we could feel them shake the house. Every new explosion rattled the windows.
I didn’t consider calling in a noise complaint, but I sure did wish my neighbors had been more considerate with the number and size of fireworks they had purchased. I try not to mow my lawn before 8 a.m. on Saturdays so I don’t disturb my neighbors, so it would be appreciated if they gave us the same type of consideration.
What is the solution? Surely creating new city ordinances wouldn’t do much of anything since the problem is that residents aren’t following the existing ordinances.
I think the easiest and best solution is simply for people to decide to be courteous to their neighbors, rather than only thinking of their own enjoyment.
Yes, have fun! Show your American pride. But do so with respect for your neighbors. Most of us are not looking to celebrate at midnight on a weeknight a week after Independence Day. We all love freedom, but most of us don’t appreciate our neighbors using their freedom to be selfish and rude to others. Be thoughtful of others.
Maybe next year when purchasing your fireworks, you could use some common sense and avoid purchasing the “Super Screamer 9000” or the “Ultra Mega KaBoom” and opt for more neighborhood-friendly choices.
I get it, shooting fireworks on July Fourth is a tradition that is extremely important to many people. It’s a way to show pride and patriotism.
But people shooting fireworks off every night for a month aren’t doing so because they love America so much. They’re doing it because they love shooting off fireworks.
There are plenty of other ways to show you love your country that don’t terrorize your neighbors, their children and their pets. Fly a flag, wear a patriotic T-shirt or hat, listen to some John Philip Sousa marches, put a patriotic bumper sticker on your car, visit a national park, but most importantly, by being kind to your neighbors.