# Fireworks Mayhem 2024
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 25, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322 "2024-06-25T14:35:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/1 "2024-06-25T14:35:40Z")
It’s that time of year again. Over the next couple of weeks several good United States citizens will lose a limb and some a life in the search for the Big Bang. Homes will burn to the ground. Wildfires will erupt. Cars will be destroyed.
There be terrified pets and sleep interrupted. Some places will sound like a war zone. Cranky old men such as myself will be made crankier. Our neighbors have already started. Grr…
I admit I liked fireworks… when I was five. But it has always been lost on me what thrill adults get blowing things up. What am I missing?
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/2 "2024-06-25T14:38:36Z")
[And we’re off!](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/1-person-critically-injured-by-a-firework/ar-BB1oR9TS?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/3 "2024-06-25T14:41:19Z")
> [@Biotop](#):
>
> I admit I liked fireworks… when I was five. But it has always been lost on me what thrill adults get blowing things up. What am I missing?
I enjoy a good fireworks show with all the pretty lights. But as a child, I couldn’t bring myself to spend what small amount of cash I had on fireworks. As much as I enjoyed blowing stuff up, the thrill was just too emphemeral for me to drop down cold, hard cash.
I have to admit, it does seem like the quality of fireworks available to the general public has improved considerably since I was a wee lad. There are people in my neighborhood firing stuff into the air that bursts like they do at a professional show. Not as grand of course, but I don’t remember anyone in any neighborhood I lived in as a child having those kind of fireworks.
I don’t mind people setting of fireworks on the 4th. I’m not into it, but I can live with it. I do get tired of hearing them in the weeks leading up to and afterward though.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/4 "2024-06-25T15:47:45Z")
Around here, it’s not just 7/4, New Year’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving — just about any holiday gets the **BOOMS**.
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/5 "2024-06-25T15:48:59Z")
The weekend before last there was a local Fish Fry Festival. With fireworks!
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/6 "2024-06-25T15:52:29Z")
I guess even in this economy, Americans still have money to burn.
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### Author:  [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/7 "2024-06-25T16:03:21Z")
I’m close enough to Fort Carson with it’s armored brigades and combat aviation that this time of year just means a few more boombooms. Neighborhood chats get “what are all those explosions and gunshots and I didn’t know this house was in Gaza WTF?!!?” every few weeks, until other residents point out the Army base on the other side of the highway and question the intelligence of the asker to never see the “Fort Carson Entrance” right freaking there.
Normally I’m not huge on fireworks - I like watchin’ 'em, but spending my own money on booms is a step too far. But this year, my niece is doing a fundraiser at a fireworks tent, so I’ll pick some up to show support. Scarlett will go stay with family in her thundervest while Vaya sits outside and watches me (and maybe the fireworks a bit).
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/8 "2024-06-25T16:22:15Z")
I’m actually looking forward to this Fourth of July. The family who has been our next-door neighbors for nearly thirty years just recently moved. They were generally good neighbors, except every 7/4 when all their friends and relatives would come out of the woodwork and they would blow up a half ton of fireworks in their driveway and the street all night and then never clean up their mess afterwards. And it didn’t seem to matter to these “law and order Republicans” that the city passed a fireworks ban a dozen or so years ago.
We are about three blocks from the city limits so I expect to hear some booms off in the distance from people shooting stuff off out in the county, but hopefully I don’t have to listen to it coming from right next door anymore.
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### Author:  [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/9 "2024-06-25T16:45:41Z")
In South Oak Cliff, it’s not really the fireworks that bug me. The folks shooting off fully automatic weapons in the air? That worries me a lot more. I’ve heard a few fall nearby when I was out smoking on the patio.
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> Around here, it’s not just 7/4, New Year’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving — just about any holiday gets the **BOOMS**
Hah, and the eclipse! There were folks shooting off fireworks and guns during it this year.
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/10 "2024-06-28T14:12:52Z")
> **[11-year-old girl loses several fingers from firework in River Rouge](https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/11-year-old-girl-loses-several-fingers-from-firework-river-rouge)**
>
> An 11-year-old girl lost several fingers after a firework blew up in her hand in River Rouge. Her sister suffered minor injuries.
> **[Juveniles start fire inside Fort Lauderdale Walmart after setting off...](https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/juveniles-start-fire-inside-fort-lauderdale-walmart-after-setting-off-fireworks-officials-say/)**
>
> FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A group of juveniles set off fireworks inside a Walmart store in Fort Lauderdale, causing clothes to catch fire, fireRead More
> **[Fireworks accidentally ignite massive DC apartment fire that displaced 76...](https://www.fox5dc.com/news/massive-dc-apartment-fire-displaces-76-residents)**
>
> Officials say fireworks accidentally ignited a massive apartment fire in Washington, D.C. that injured a firefighter and left dozens of residents without a home.
> **[Fireworks light brush fire in Parley’s Canyon, closes I-80, I-215 ramps](https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/fireworks-light-brush-fire-in-parleys-canyon-closes-i-80-i-215-ramps/)**
>
> Officials believe fireworks led to an acre-and-a-half brush fire that led to ramp closures on Interstate 80 and Interstate 215 Tuesday evening.
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2024, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/11 "2024-07-02T11:33:43Z")
> **[Cars go up in flames at downtown LA street takeover](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/cars-fire-downtown-la-fireworks/3448514/)**
>
> At least three cars burst into flames early Saturday morning at a downtown Los Angeles intersection.
> **[Officials: Pennsylvania man killed when fireworks explode in his garage](https://wjactv.com/news/local/officials-man-killed-fireworks-explosion-union-city-pennsylvania-holiday-display-investigation-accident-death-atf)**
>
> Pennsylvania officials are investigating a death after an expert was reportedly killed while setting up a fireworks display over the weekend.Authorities say a l
> **[Indiana fireworks accident: 7 people wounded; 10 cars and 4 homes damaged](https://www.yahoo.com/news/indiana-fireworks-accident-7-people-015807501.html)**
>
> What started as a private fireworks show at a home in Northwest Indiana turned into a dangerous accident, leaving multiple people wounded.
> **[Man loses hand and fingers in fireworks mishap on Long Island](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-york-fireworks-explosion/5554937/)**
>
> Police said the 66-year-old man was in serious condition after the Saturday night explosion in the yard of his Long Island home.
> **[Fireworks Cause Fire in Rock Springs Weekend Before the Fourth - SweetwaterNOW](https://www.sweetwaternow.com/fireworks-cause-fire-in-rock-springs-weekend-before-the-fourth/)**
>
> ROCK SPRINGS – The Rock Springs Fire Department was dispatched to a wildland fire threatening homes at 1148 Palisades Way the night of June 28. The investigation found that the fire was caused by fireworks. At 9:21 p.m., Rock Springs Fire responded...
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/12 "2024-07-03T11:26:43Z")
> **[Fireworks ruled as cause of destructive Dothan house fire](https://www.yahoo.com/news/fireworks-ruled-cause-destructive-dothan-180952160.html)**
>
> DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — Dothan Firefighters have determined that fireworks were at the heart of a Dothan house fire early Monday morning. Near midnight, Dothan firefighters rushed to the 1000 block of Denton Road on reports of a fire breaking out in a...
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> **[Fireworks caused 60 acre grass fire on North Padre sand dunes](https://www.kristv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/corpus-christi/padre-island/fireworks-caused-60-acre-grass-fire-on-north-padre-sand-dunes)**
>
> "I started to smell smoke around 9 p.m.," San Antonio resident Daniel Mendez said. "I opened the door, and to my surprise, there was a fire."
> **[Illegal fireworks possibly involved in two East Bay brush fires](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/east-bay/fireworks-brush-fires/3582086/)**
>
> A brush fire sparked in Concord early Tuesday morning and came very close to homes before crews contained it. It was the second fire in a span of about 6 hours in the East Bay that may have involved illegal fireworks, fire officials believe.
> **[Fire at San Francisco's McLaren Park sparked by illegal firework](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/grass-fire-burns-about-3-acres-san-franciscos-mclaren-park-sunday/)**
>
> San Francisco firefighters responded to a small grass fire in McLaren Park Sunday night that was sparked by a firework.
> **[Fire atop Skinner Butte raises fireworks concern in Eugene](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/fire/2024/07/02/firefighters-contain-brush-fire-at-skinner-butte-caused-by-fireworks-in-eugene/74283021007/)**
>
> Fireworks were the suspected culprit of a brush fire that set part of Skinner Butte ablaze on Tuesday. Most fireworks are banned in Eugene.
> **[Salinas man loses limb in fireworks accident according to fire chief – KION546](https://kion546.com/news/top-stories/2024/07/02/salinas-man-loses-limb-in-fireworks-accident-according-to-fire-chief/)**
>
> SALINAS, Calif (KION-TV) -- A Salinas man was seriously injured after an accident involving illegal fireworks on Monday night. Salinas Fire Department paramedics responded to reports of a man screaming near Independence and East Boronda Road. When...
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/13 "2024-07-03T12:48:59Z")
Ben Franklin fought the Russians in the South Pacific so we could celebrate Fireworks Day.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/14 "2024-07-04T03:02:41Z")
**BOOMS** started about 6:00 this evening and seem to have stopped (11:00PM).
ETA: Spoke too soon. Crap in a hat!
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/15 "2024-07-04T03:14:28Z")
> [@Biotop](#):
>
> I admit I liked fireworks… when I was five. But it has always been lost on me what thrill adults get blowing things up. What am I missing?
You’re missing the fact that some people get big and tall and get jobs and stuff, but are still mentally about five. Or maybe even as mature as ten.
I’ve ranted about this (probably more than once) in the rants thread in the Pit. This insanity happens a few days earlier in Canada and I’m glad it’s now behind us. There was a lot of it on Sunday and it was a goddam war zone on Canada Day, July 1, but that was the end of it, thank the Lord. I’m tempted to write a letter to our Premier suggesting that fireworks should be banned altogether except for officially recognized organizations doing public fireworks displays. Within neighbourhoods, it’s a goddam nuisance.
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/16 "2024-07-04T20:45:43Z")
> **[Fireworks spark fire at Toledo home](https://www.13abc.com/2024/07/04/fireworks-spark-fire-toledo-home/)**
>
> Officials said residents had disposed of used fireworks, which reignited, causing the damage.
> **[Marlin home catches fire from children popping fireworks](https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/falls-county/marlin/marlin-home-catches-fire-from-children-popping-fireworks)**
>
> A Marlin family is suffering the loss of several items after their home caught on fire; the Marlin Fire Dept. believes it was likely caused by children popping fireworks.
> **[Fire breaks out at Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo](https://www.ksby.com/san-luis-obispo/fire-breaks-out-at-sinsheimer-elementary-school-in-san-luis-obispo)**
>
> A fire broke out at Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Wednesday night as hundreds of residents gathered in the area for a fireworks show. It's unclear what caused the fire.
> **[Fire starts after improperly disposed fireworks in Lake Oswego](https://www.yahoo.com/news/fire-starts-improperly-disposed-fireworks-125052166.html)**
>
> The Fourth of July started early in Lake Oswego after discarded fireworks led to a fire Wednesday night, officials said.
> **[Fire in Ammon caused by fireworks, chief asks community to be...](https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/07/fire-in-ammon-caused-by-fireworks-chief-asks-community-to-be-responsible/)**
>
> AMMON — A fire near the foothills in Ammon was started by fireworks, according to law enforcement and firefighters. It happened Tuesday night after 9:30 p.m. near Sunnyside Road and East Crown Cres. In pictures sent to EastIdahoNews.com, flames...
> **[‘I lost everything’: 16 units burned in fire on Stevens Creek Road](https://www.wrdw.com/2024/07/04/i-lost-everything-16-units-burned-fire-stevens-creek-road/)**
>
> Crews battled a fire at an apartment complex on Stevens Creek Road early Thursday morning, according to authorities.
> **[Fireworks in trash against the house, cause of house fire near Carthage](https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/joplin-news-first/fireworks-in-trash-against-the-house-cause-of-house-fire-near-carthage/article_f0b92134-3a3e-11ef-80f7-fba83871345e.html)**
>
> JASPER COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM) — About 10:50 p.m. Wednesday night reports of smoke and flames west of Carthage, Mo. on Island Lane alerted Jasper County E-911.
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/17 "2024-07-04T20:51:09Z")
> **[Schenectady police investigating fireworks-related injury](https://www.dailygazette.com/news/schenectady-police-investigating-fireworks-related-injury/article_6a988df0-3a0d-11ef-aed4-ffa29735393c.html)**
>
> City police are investigating an incident in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood of Schenectady who was injured by fireworks.
> **[Metro hospitals reports multiple patients have suffered fireworks-related...](https://www.kctv5.com/2024/07/04/childrens-mercy-hospital-reports-three-teens-have-suffered-fireworks-related-injuries/)**
>
> Hospital administration described the injuries as two hand injuries and one eye injury
> **[Two firefighters injured in house fire, cause suspected to be fireworks](https://www.kxly.com/news/two-firefighters-injured-in-house-fire-cause-suspected-to-be-fireworks/article_b1474406-3a0a-11ef-a788-fb985668fc73.html)**
>
> MOSCOW, Idaho -- Two firefighters with the Moscow Fire Department were injured while responding to a house fire in Moscow Wednesday night.
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### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/18 "2024-07-05T03:12:34Z")
Dateline 4JUL2024 - Colorado Springs SDMB Affiliate
Occasional poster @ParallelLines reported a quite serious injury to right inner thigh, when said poster attempted to calm their Bengal Cat who was twitchy and panicky due to high volume of loud bangs and pops. An at-scene witness describes it as a pair of three inch long scratches on the inner thigh despite a pair of boxer briefs and denim shorts. Much cursing ensued, with most of them being directed at crazed firework lovers rather than the cat, which, to it’s credit looked somewhat ashamed rather than smug.
* * *
Seriously though, at least it’s been better than past years, with fewer pops prior to the day of, but I fully expect many pops until the weekend is over. And those scratches are going to itch like HELL and be awkward to scratch.
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### Author:  [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2024, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/19 "2024-07-05T03:41:17Z")
I’d be all in favor of a painfully high federal excise tax on fireworks. The grass fires, terrified animals, struggling veterans, and those just trying to get a decent night’s sleep don’t seem to bother the idiots setting off fireworks. Maybe hitting them in the pocketbook would help.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322/20 "2024-07-05T03:44:24Z")
One nice thing about the current Premier of Ontario is that he prides himself on being accessible and listening to his constituents. So I sent him a message tonight suggesting that he consider licensing fireworks to only legitimate organizations conducting public fireworks displays, and not allow them to be sold to random yokels (my actual phrase was “irresponsible and inconsiderate individuals”).
I doubt I’ll even get a response (other than the automated one I just got about how deeply they appreciated my message 🙄), but hey, I do what I can. Maybe this will eventually filter though into someone’s consciousness. After all, firecrackers were banned here a long time ago.
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