Fireworks Thread

Fireworks complaints to police surged during holiday

So far this year, the Portland police have fielded 299 fireworks-related calls, up from 32 calls for the same period last year, Rogers said.
Jarred Falls, manager of Phantom Fireworks in Scarborough, said the store had about 1,700 customers on Wednesday. Customers bought mostly firecrackers and a lot of boxed assortments, Falls said. The store provides safety tips on the bags and also a sheet of safety tips in an effort to prevent problems.

PPH

Fireworks, police business booming

Thomas said the man, who wasn't immediately identified, had cut up a "nine-shot cake" -- a round of fireworks lit by a single fuse which sets off a small fountain of sparks as the fuse lights each section.
The man cut the fireworks into three pieces, Thomas said, leaving him a shorter fuse to light. As he leaned over the fireworks to light the fuse, it went off, Thomas said.

PPH

I found one other article where somebody else in Maine was injured this week, but can't find it now. As the article states, this man tried to modify the unit and could not get out of the way in time.

Chances are that someone that will hurt himself with fireworks would probably hurt himself by another means.

Westbrook has gone with state didn't do it right we are not going to do their work have at it and have fun!!!!
Even cut off planners who wanted to muck up placing a store!!!

No plain clothes police patrols here like So. Portland!!!

Yes, last night was a little noisy appears people were having fun and I love it!!!

Stupid people get hurt everyday even smart ones also. The world did not end nor will it because of this.

Fireworks explosion injures 11, two severely

In all, 11 people, including five children, were injured in the explosion reported at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Family members say an 8-month-old girl was injured, and a 2-year-old boy is in a medically induced coma.
Separately, three children were hospitalized Tuesday while playing with sparklers on Rye Beach. Rye police said the children put sparklers inside a glass bottle and the bottle exploded.

PPH

The reason for pointing these out is because many people have told me NH is a safer place to set off fireworks because they are better educated. It sure does not seem that way. It seems no safer there than it does here, it is just a shame that so many of the victims are children.

How many drownings this years?
snowmobile accidents?
ATV accidents?

Sorry kids get hurt in any situation.

All of the following towns do not allow any type of fireworks use.

South Portland, North Yarmouth, Freeport, Bangor, Hollis, Frye Island, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Rockland, Eliot, Wells, Orono, Portland, Cumberland, Owls Head, Brunswick, Bath, Buxton, Winthrop, Wayne, Wiscasset, Boothbay Harbor, Old Orchard Beach, York, Sanford, Auburn, & Mount Desert

I read that somebody said most municipalities do not allow fireworks use in our state. There are only 28 on the list from the state website and yet we have 637 municipalities and unorganized territories which I got from the listing from each county. There are a couple of towns that have certain restrictions like that of Scarborough where you can only fire them off 5 days a year…July 3, 4, 5, Dec 31, & Jan 1.

I also read that a majority of our state’s population will not be able to use fireworks. Our population is 1,328,188 and this only affects 321,109. Which means that close to 1,007,000 residents can buy these as long as they are over 21 years of age then you can throw in all the sales of the tourists as well. So it is not like there is any shortage of people or towns around where you can use these fireworks.

Thanks for list of towns prohibiting.

I'm not impressed with the longevity of the mortar tubes, they will just about last as long as the packet of rounds they come with. We blew off several of the bases of the tubes, will have to give better thought as to securing them to the ground. They are crudely manufactured paper tubes with plastic bottoms stapled in. I see the failure of these tubes as a possible cause of accidents from errant flight etc.

I was watching the news this morning where the fireworks accident in NH took place that 11 people were injured. The fire department or fire marshall, can't remember which, confiscated more than 90 boxes of unopened fireworks that were also improperly stored.

I need to fix an error in my list of towns. Cumberland does allow the use of fireworks, but only on the same days as Scarborough.

A couple of thoughts.

1. Accidents can happen to anyone, even the most experienced. Take nothing for granted.

2. Just because you did something carelessly once, does not necessarily mean you are going to get away with it again.

3. The nanny state has drawn too many into complacency. When you are standing there with an explosive in one hand, and a match in the other, the guardian angel of Michael Bloomberg is not necessarily hovering over you to protect you from harm.

Responsible people shouldn't be denied the right to enjoy themselves simply because the world has been sprinkled liberally with morons...... Personally I've always enjoyed being a scofflaw when it comes to fire works.......

"Responsible people shouldn't be denied the right . . scofflaw when it comes to fire works......."

My thoughts, exactly. Unfortunately, In our modern police state, the law now has teeth and our jackbooted police force will gleefully interpret a noise complaint as shots fired or a terror threat and react with the SWAT response they have so warmly embraced. Then, six months down the road, you and the missus head off for some R + R only to find you're on the no fly list. Happy Independence Day!

We need improved fire works laws and regulations like we need improved vehicle inspection laws and regulations and concealed carry laws and regulations. All sarcasm intended. Our founders never intended to protect us from individual stupidity. Their successors in the state legislatures should follow suit.

I recall reading a story either on AMG or elsewhere that said prior to the 4th of July time period, the only fireworks injury in Maine, at that point, came from the result of a guy drying off his wet fireworks with a propane torch. There is no cure for stupid.

My grandmother always used to say the the untrustworthy are ever distrustful........ in my twisted little brain that somehow applies to the need all the safety Nazis have to regulate everyone else's behavior....but then my grandmother also told me that where I was going I'd never have to worry about it being cold! Somehow I get the feeling she's right on both counts.

Last night I went to a town meeting in Fairfield. It was like a bad comedy with the "problems" all related to illegal behavior. The proposed solution? More laws and restrictions on those already following the rules. Several people asked for a "fireworks permit" system. Yeah, bad guys always ask permission and get a "legal permit" for their crimes. Some had very legitimate concerns in the congested urban areas. Neighbors showering my home with burning debris and garbage would not be welcomed to me, and I see different issues for those who live all stacked all over each other.

So, this is my take on the meeting:

The "Ban it all!" people are the same people who want to control everyone and everything.

The majority of problems were;

· HUGE Explosions
· Very late use
· Children using them
· Bottle Rockets on roofs
· People throwing them from vehicles

All illegal actions already. The answer? Enforce the law, not make more laws for the morons to ignore and the people being responsible to pay for, with no positive results. I am also not surprised at the people who go to these meetings to yell from the back of the room but don't speak their mind when comments are solicited. And for the people who like to yell and grumble "This is my town" wanting everything banned, well, this is MY town too and I am happy to let your urban, cramped, heavily populated area set your own rules, but don't worry yourself about what I do in my rural area where there is no problem.

Was watching BBC coverage of miner demonstration in Spain. Some of the miners were using firework rockets and launching them at the police, interesting...... Homeland Security!

Before we legalized fireworks I had a cannon problem. See, I could fire my cannon but I had to have a cannonball in it when I fired it. If I fired it as a simple "salute" without a cannonball I was breaking the law. Since the law was changed I've been able to spend my cannonball money on other things, and my relationships with my neighbors has improved dramatically.

Well, gee, Mike - since your neighbors had to keep bringing you back those cannonballs, I can see why they'd get upset.
:)

"Before we legalized fireworks . . "

That's good humor! Search AMG or youtube for 'Mythbuster's cannon' to see the Mike Travers training video.

I have some changes in different towns and some towns are currently making changes to their existing fireworks ordinances. For example: Bridgton is creating a committee to rewrite the ordinance and Gorham has changed theirs.

Here is the link to the Fireworks part of the state website

Unfortunately I do not think Westbrook will be far behind! At first council here did it right jt and refused to do states' job.
However due to number of complaints over holiday there seems to be a possible change in wind.There isn't really anything our mayor can resist to screw up
because of a number of calls to police over holiday!!!

Our complaints may have started with the holiday, but it did not end there. There are those who want a ban, there are those who want to compromise, and then there are those who want to leave it the way it is.

I could see going for a compromise to try and bring both sides together and work something out. Tempers were certainly flaring on both sides tonight and nobody seemed to be in control for awhile. It was very obvious that the only way this is going to come to a resolution is a compromise.

They both threatened citizens petitions and were both informed that in order to make the November ballot, they have to be cleared by the lawyers, have public hearings before the board of selectmen, and collect 229 signatures. This all has to be done by August 24th which there is not enough time for.