Fourth of July Fireworks

With the Fourth of July barreling down the calendar at us and a population reveling in a return to normal activities, your community should brace for fireworks. In this week’s blog, we suggest a few potential solutions.

State and local laws governing consumer fireworks vary as much as any law in the land, from outright prohibition to bring-on-the-artillery. Odds are good that your community discourages or outright bans fireworks usage on your property, with the peace and quiet of residents, fire safety, and liability reduction as the key reasons. People who have to work the next day are among those who are likely to wholeheartedly support anti-fireworks regulations, but some residents in any community are likely to find fireworks fascinating. And a certain percentage of them – it only takes one – may take advantage of the dark and the absence of staff go on an explosive spree. How can you minimize this?

Here are a few suggestions: 

• Most cities and towns offer some variety of community fireworks presentations on or around Independence Day. Since July 4 falls on a Sunday this year, you may find yourself spoiled for choice, with nearby displays falling all weekend through Monday, July 5. Promote these options, complete with the where-and-when details, on your community’s bulletin board or in your newsletter or e-newsletter. Enlist your staff to help facilitate carpooling among residents since traffic and parking are always concerns at these events. Better yet, turn the whole situation into a positive by renting a van or two to ferry residents to and from the event. If you are blessed (or is it cursed?) to live in a tourism-heavy city, sightseeing trolleys and tour buses are often available for rent. 

• Make a televised showing of local or national fireworks displays part of a July 4 pool party or cookout, if one is part of your newly revived calendar of social events. Rent a big-screen TV for your clubhouse or go for an outdoor-rated one if you want to set it up outside (well away from the pool!) Hand out glowsticks (available online or at party supply stores) to the kids in attendance as a safe alternative to sparklers, and set up coloring or crafts project themed to the holiday. 

• At a minimum, make sure your residents know that your community discourages or bans fireworks for legitimate reasons, not because you want to play Big Brother. Remind them that the sound of fireworks explosions can present real problems for combat veterans (who, after 20 years of an ongoing war, are in plentiful supply in a wide age range), pet owners, and parents of babies and small children, quite apart from any safety and liability problems.

 We hope these few suggestions help you celebrate and enjoy a glorious Fourth!