fireworks

[jerryh]

I'll raise my head above the parapet, here, and say that I earn a small amount firing about a dozen professional firework shows a year. The money's not the point, though - I do it mostly because I love fireworks.
I run a school Nov 5th show (Which attracts nearly a thousand people who all have a great time, BTW)
I've also just taken the exam to allow me to be in charge of pro shows.

There have been a lot of strong anti opinions already expressed here, and a number of calls for further restriction. Would you want to restrict pro shows as well as amateurs in their garden or in the street?

I actually agree about the disturbance to animals and to those who are frightened by (or simply do not enjoy) loud noises. I don't know, but I suspect there may be (not firework-specific) legislation already in place which can deal with this nuisance. Specific legislation may be necessary if not.
Pro fireworks can legally be noisier than consumer, but pros take great care to ensure that their client is aware of their responsibility to their neighbours.

last years big display went ahead in the pouring rain.

Pros will rarely stop a show just because of rain. Fireworks can be waterproofed and will fire through rain.

wasn't there recent legislation to make them quieter

The Fireworks Act 2003 made a number of restrictions with the aim of reducing noise, nuisance and injury, including:

restricting possession - no-one under 18 is permitted to possess fireworks in public
restricting the sound level of consumer fireworks to 120dB
restricting the time that any fireworks (amateur or pro) can be fired: 5th Nov - midnight; New Year, Chinese New year or Diwali - 1am; all other dates - 11pm

Jerry

[honeybee]

I'd be happy if they were just restricted to very well organised events. I think this may be the case in Oz? As long as they're on general sale, any idiot is going to get hold of them.

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by honeybee

I'd be happy if they were just restricted to very well organised events. I think this may be the case in Oz? As long as they're on general sale, any idiot is going to get hold of them.

Hi, Honeybee.
Don't know about fireworks in Australia.
Like cars and their drivers, fireworks are only as safe as the person who's handing them, I'm afraid

Jerry

[lewisa]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

that's great So because the farmer doesn't care whether he scares his sheep you felt you didn't need to either? The fact is fireworks do scare sheep.

Not quite. If a neighbour had come round and said they was concerned for their pet, it would have been a quick apology and an end to festivities. It wouldnt of happened on any other evening than november 5th.But it wasnt a pleasant neighbour. It was a self rightous farmer who shoots deer within earshot of his sheep, and me.

I didnt enjoy walking along a public footpath and being startled by a 12 bore going off, but I would never have had the gaul to complain, he wasnt doing wrong (legally at least, moraly is debatable).

Im not denying fireworks dont scare sheep, but I'll not accept an argument that it causes long term damage, or anything other than a brief increase in heartrate and a little adrenelin in a sheep, not much worse than a tracor starting up behind them.

At the end of the day, I wont allow someone who shoots his livestock to complain to me that I might temporarily scare his sheep.

We live in a country that slaughtered 7 million sheep becuase there was a small chance they might catch a contagous desease. The idea that scaring a few with fireworks once or twice a year is deplorable is ridiculous by comparison.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by honeybee

sad though isn't it that we have to pray for rain just to get a bit of peace and quiet! last years big display went ahead in the pouring rain.

Rain makes it more dangerous in my opinion. The reason I can say this is about ten years ago, we took our children to an organised display that was done from barges out on the Thames, it was chucking it down but it still went ahead. Each time a rocket went up it didn't appear to reach it's maximum height, consequently bringing down the molten ashes into the crowd.The rain brought the bits down quicker and pushed the explosions lower and closer to us. I ended up brushing bits off a little kid sitting on his Dads shoulders, who was unaware of what was happening.
When we got home coats had little flecks and tiny burn marks on the shoulders.

Julie

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Rain makes it more dangerous in my opinion. The reason I can say this is about ten years ago, we took our children to an organised display that was done from barges out on the Thames, it was chucking it down but it still went ahead. Each time a rocket went up it didn't appear to reach it's maximum height, consequently bringing down the molten ashes into the crowd.The rain brought the bits down quicker and pushed the explosions lower and closer to us. I ended up brushing bits off a little kid sitting on his Dads shoulders, who was unaware of what was happening.
When we got home coats had little flecks and tiny burn marks on the shoulders.

Julie

Definitely sounds like that show should have been stopped, or at the very least certain fireworks not used - though I think it was more likely the wind strength and direction that caused the fallout to land amongst the crowd.
In all the training I've had the #1 priority is crowd (and operator) safety - post crew to watch and report fallout, post fire-watchers to extinguish anything that lands on the ground, don't fire any firework that may drop fallout onto people, and ultimately if necessary stop the show.
Jerry

[flying red fox]

Iam ok with Fireworks but i think they sould really be held at public events like Christmas or New Year Bonfire Night.

Birthday parties might have the odd one or 2 but shouldnt be let off more than an hour after darknesss so that people can sleep and also if they are notified when one near them is going to happen they can prepare to take their pet to a friends house further away for the night or something.

The thing i hate most with yobs and fireworks is the cruel things they do, iam not sure when i heard this but still remember it, it involved a dog and a firework i think it was and the dog died poor thing, that makes me mad because it shouldnt happen

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by jerryh

Definitely sounds like that show should have been stopped, or at the very least certain fireworks not used - though I think it was more likely the wind strength and direction that caused the fallout to land amongst the crowd.
In all the training I've had the #1 priority is crowd (and operator) safety - post crew to watch and report fallout, post fire-watchers to extinguish anything that lands on the ground, don't fire any firework that may drop fallout onto people, and ultimately if necessary stop the show.
Jerry

Yes I'm sure you are right Jerry. Perhaps things have changed since then with new EU H&E directives, but the guys in the fire suits were on the barges, not on shore like us, so I think they were unaware. Never been to one since and don't intend to...no offence meant btw, just me thinking of the wildlife factor. Julie

[William]

In some areas another big night for fireworks tonight - the end of Ramadan.

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

I'm also no longer a fan of fireworks anymore. They go off far too often for my liking and cause significant distress to animals. A few days a year would be OK but it's getting out of hand where I live.

Ditto that, Matt.

[Fritillary]

I hate them!! They are noisy and my dog becomes mad every time they explode.
Curiously, authorities dont consider them as dangerous in spite of continuous accidents with bad heurted people or deaths.

I dont understand why most of people like them and are fascinated to see them explode the colours on the sky.

[henrya]

I don't mind the look of fireworks, but why do they all have to bang, and so loudly? When I was young I seem to remember that you had bangers and jumping jacks, that a few children chucked around a couple of days before November 5th, and most of the other fireworks were silent - except maybe the odd rocket. And only let off on November 5th. Now its the Saturday or Sunday before, or the Saturday or Sunday after, or any occasion (to celebrate the end of the week!), and almost everything bangs. Perhaps I'm just viewing the past through rose tinted spectacles, but I used to have ear problems then, and I think I'd have remembered if there had been lots of loud bangs.

henrya

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by henrya

I don't mind the look of fireworks, but why do they all have to bang, and so loudly? When I was young I seem to remember that you had bangers and jumping jacks, that a few children chucked around a couple of days before November 5th, and most of the other fireworks were silent - except maybe the odd rocket. And only let off on November 5th. Now its the Saturday or Sunday before, or the Saturday or Sunday after, or any occasion (to celebrate the end of the week!), and almost everything bangs. Perhaps I'm just viewing the past through rose tinted spectacles, but I used to have ear problems then, and I think I'd have remembered if there had been lots of loud bangs.

henrya

This is the main problem, confined to November the 5th and truly SPECIAL events such as perhaps the local carnival and there would not be a problem, ie as it used to be. truthfully "profesional" firework lighter do not make the issue any better unless the number of events is restricted to the traditional times. If you really care about animals then you will confine you use of fireworks to November 5th the the truly special events.

[Susie]

Is it safe to come out now? lol

In my opinion only people with a special licence should be allowed to handle fireworks - they are explosives after all.

Around here they start before Diwali, carry on through Ramadan and right past Guy Fawkes - so they are going off every night for over a month. On Saturday night it sounded like World War Three. It's madness.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Susie

Is it safe to come out now? lol
It's madness.

I agree.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Susie

Is it safe to come out now? lol

In my opinion only people with a special licence should be allowed to handle fireworks - they are explosives after all.

Around here they start before Diwali, carry on through Ramadan and right past Guy Fawkes - so they are going off every night for over a month. On Saturday night it sounded like World War Three. It's madness.

Then another great big session a new year!

[Alan]

This thread could get a bit explosive...

Try living nextdoor to someone with seven dogs. The thing is the owners make more noise when they're trying to get them to stop barking!

[Oscar2006]

At the end of the day it is big business selling fireworks.
They don't get a big window of time to make their dough, and big bangs attract big WOWS!
(did you feel that one go right through you?)
I enjoy the exitement of a big organised show, I have done a couple of back yard packs as well, but the only way to make progress with getting rid of them entirely is the day we have a multi fatal incident in a Big-Wig MP's constituency.

I didn't notice anybody's thread mentioning added carbon/sulphur/addyourownchemicalhere emmisions etc. Not a big factor maybe, but every firework we light costs us a little bit more of the planet.

I'm happy to lose the whole of the big bang thing, but that also means all the pretty ones must go as well.

Oscar

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by Alan

This thread could get a bit explosive...

Try living nextdoor to someone with seven dogs. The thing is the owners make more noise when they're trying to get them to stop barking!

I have some friend who have two very lovable but noisy dogs, can't quite make out why the house next door always seems to be for sale.

[Susie]

Originally Posted by Alan

This thread could get a bit explosive...

Try living nextdoor to someone with seven dogs. The thing is the owners make more noise when they're trying to get them to stop barking!

Have you been to my house, Alan? My neighbours have seven dogs. On the upside we always know when we have visitors coming down the drive cos next doors dogs start barking .. the downside is that all our visitors are greeted to a chorus of "SHURRRUP YOU ************!!!" lmao

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Susie

Have you been to my house, Alan? My neighbours have seven dogs. On the upside we always know when we have visitors coming down the drive cos next doors dogs start barking .. the downside is that all our visitors are greeted to a chorus of "SHURRRUP YOU ************!!!" lmao

You said you were going to keep quiet about that Susie

Yes my neighbours also say "SHURRUP YOU BLUMIN DOGIES!!!" but they're not too bad really considering. The fireworks make me want to bark as well.

Oranized displays yes, on sale to the public no ... Just think Jerry, you could make a killing then!

[nightshade]

Fireworks,nowdays September to September the air is split with violent explosions
at anytime any day of the week for any reason
What chance do you have when the firework party (or just mischief makers)
can be the other side of town but the constant crump, crump, of explosions
are heard for miles
The majority of people are are being abused by a small minority with no apparent
redress,is it because we do not raise our voices?

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by Alan

Oranized displays yes, on sale to the public no ... Just think Jerry, you could make a killing then!

Not particularly interested in that, Alan - just in the enjoyment I get from the creativity, the buzz of the live show, the beauty of the fireworks and the pleasure which others get from watching the show...
...Oh, and yes the noise and the explosions. I'm like most professional firework firers in feeling a crazy, strange but substantial pleasure from the physical thump in the chest you get standing close to a rack of shells lifting.

The truth is that a ban on sale of fireworks to the public would make little difference to me personally. The show I run for the school would have to change, as that is done with consumer fireworks. The school would have to pay more for the same length show (though the fireworks would be better). It would similarly affect many semi-public shows by schools, scouts and other groups all over the country.

Disturbance is increasing - that needs to be addressed, no doubt about it - but to ban all fireworks from the public will also remove a great deal of pleasure for those who use them responsibly. A family having their small garden display, the local school, scouts or other groups who don't have the budget for a professional display, the rotary club who offer their time and money to support a local carnival with a small consumer-fireworks display. Do you want to ban them?

Jerry

[Alan]

Originally Posted by jerryh

Disturbance is increasing - that needs to be addressed, no doubt about it - but to ban all fireworks from the public will also remove a great deal of pleasure for those who use them responsibly. A family having their small garden display, the local school, scouts or other groups who don't have the budget for a professional display, the rotary club who offer their time and money to support a local carnival with a small consumer-fireworks display. Do you want to ban them?

Jerry

Well if you're asking me personally Jerry, and since fireworks disturb wildife and pets as well as many people regardless of if they're used responsibly or not, my answer would be yes.

But I think at least with organised displays only, a compromise could be made, as at least then people would know when to expect the noise.

[nightshade]

I would like the sale of fireworks to the general public limited
to 2 days either side of a celebration date and NONE of the
current crop of ear-splittingly noisy fireworks to be available
Organised displays are ok except for the noise that is a nuisance
to people not interested in attending