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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWell, I did it. I called the sheriff.
Every Fourth of July it's the same story. The same person that shoots off what sounds like a machine gun, at all hours of the day and night, is firing off fireworks.
They are going off all around me. I am afraid so I called the sheriff. I live in the woods, literally. I have a crop of corn that surrounds me on three sides and hardwood trees around my house, in my yard, that I love. I also am surrounded by an old growth forest of pines which are harvested on an overlapping schedule.
I am afraid I am going to be set on fire. I told the dispatch officer as much. My dogs are also petrified. I couldn't peel the little one off me if I tried. I'm fed up. I'm tired of feeling unsafe and frankly disrespected. So I called the sheriff. I asked to be made anonymous. The dispatcher said they'd send someone out. I thanked her. She said they'd been getting lots of complaints.
What I didn't tell her was that before I moved here, I had a condo in town, about twelve miles away. During the last week of June 2013, I moved here from the condo and planned to ready my condo for the realtor after the 4th. I never got the chance. You see someone left fireworks debris in a trash can at the back of the building and in the early morning of July 5th it burned to the ground. Seven families were left homeless with nothing. It was a total loss.
I am frequently reminded of my good luck when I go into town to shop and see the empty space where my home used to be. I am tired of being treated with disregard by idiots that show little regard for their own safety much less mine. So I called the sheriff and I feel a little bit better having taken that step. Time will tell if it makes any difference.
Happy Independence Day, DUers! Always wishing you all the best!
❤ lmsp
cayugafalls
(5,631 posts)They are legal where I live and it sounds like a war zone right now and will continue to be that way for the next few hours.
We have really crappy neighbors that try and out do each other every year so it gets louder and bigger every year.
I am glad you called, at least you did something!
Stay safe!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Even if it is illegal I'm not sure if this person is law abiding. In fact, I really doubt it.
I feel for you. I hope that you can get some peace and quiet soon. Sometimes the pursuit of happiness is quiet and low key. I wish more people knew that.
❤ lmsp
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)I thought they would never end.
Richard58
(239 posts)I live in a nice suburban neighborhood but last night (the 4th) was like being a war zone! My girlfriend and I were sitting on her back porch just chatting when the fireworks started going off all over the neighborhood. It was a constant barrage of "booms" and flashes that went on for HOURS! There was a haze of smoke throughout the area and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. It was really annoying! I wanted to yell, "Enough already!" We were also worried about rockets hitting her roof because they were flying all over the place. These people have no consideration for others! Of course the police were doing nothing about it even though fireworks are illegal in this area. But I did hear a number of fire-trucks racing from one spot to another, no doubt because morons either set fire to something or blew one of their fingers off. Idiots!
cayugafalls
(5,631 posts)We went around picking up the shells and remnants this morning. I drove around the neighborhood and there is a debris field at the end of almost every driveway with burnt out husks and mortars. I guess they were too drunk to clean up after the party.
I can only hope that some fingers were scorched and hands were smacked to teach them a lesson.
I am glad you made it through the night.
evilhime
(326 posts)This has been going on every night, though this weekend was the worst! Fireworks are illegal here except for ground ONLY on 7/4 and 1/1, but that hasn't stopped them every night. Last night was literally like watching a war movie only a whole lot louder. I found out later they were doing aerial stuff in the Park down the block from my house - I don't know if they hired a pro or did it themselves since the fireworks companies are selling on the black market to get rid of inventory I have heard. I like fireworks (not firecrackers) someplace safe not in the middle of a neighborhood with houses and small children trying to sleep, and where it is my choice whether I go to see them or not. My dogs have to be tranquilized and it still does not stop my male from going bananas thinking he has to defend and barking the whole night. last night started at 6:30 and went until after midnight. I called he police twice - the finally stopped. I hope it's done for the summer, but I'm not holding my breath .
cayugafalls
(5,631 posts)That is just the way it goes. Some of them keep a few mortars and rockets for parties throughout the year as our next door neighbor likes to blow off fireworks every time he has a party so he must hold onto some leftovers for those occasions.
My ducks were on the porch last night, so I have plenty of poop and feathers to clean off, sorry to hear about your dogs, I hope they are ok. The police do nothing around here since they live in the neighborhood and the neighbor I told you about (my next door one) is an ex-cop so he has a pass on a lot of things. (A little funny; I used to walk my fence by his house yelling "I smell bacon" when he was in his yard playing music really loud.) I guess I'm crazy...
I hope your rest of summer goes better than last night.
marybourg
(12,540 posts)MacKasey
(976 posts)You did the right thing!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)JustFiveMoreMinutes
(2,133 posts)Sorry couldn't help it.
FIRE is the biggest issue especially if you're in a dry wooded area. You'd think this would obvious... but obvious is evidently against 'personal rights' in 2020.
Hope you and your stay safe!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)One would think that, yes. But I am not sure many people actually know how to think.
Thanks for the laugh, JustFiveMoreMinutes.
❤ lmsp
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)Demovictory9
(32,324 posts)sheshe2
(83,355 posts)So glad you called the police.
Stay safe.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)It's just wrong.
❤
You, too.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,041 posts)I live in near-wilderness, also. So far, the only fireworks I hear are in the distance (20 or more miles away). We've had quite a bit of rain over the past week or so.
Good luck to you and I hope you and your dogs get some peace!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)But not so much for those living there. Why do we even need fireworks at all? We could just bang pots and pans for twenty minutes and it would basically have the same effect.
Thanks for the good wishes, Hermit-The-Prog. Good luck to you, too.
❤ lmsp
BittyJenkins
(402 posts)It is frightening because you dont know if it will escalate an already frightening situation. It was my violent brother in law.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Being afraid to do what feels like the right thing should never be preempted by the fear of doing just that. I refuse to be terrorized in my own home. I am sorry to hear about your violent brother in law. I hope you are in a better situation now.
❤ lmsp
tom_kelly
(951 posts)It sure sounds like a war zone here in Miami. I wish the 10pm curfew would apply to fireworks.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Karadeniz
(22,283 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,303 posts)It'll get better soon.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Cha
(295,929 posts)I hope the best for your Firecracker situation!
That's terrible about the Condos burning down in June 2013 & the families who were left homeless! Did they and you have fire insurance?
No wonder you're stressed out about Firecrackers!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)insurance. It's the emotional damage that gets us in the end, I think. I am very thankful but sad for my former neighbors, especially the children. We all got along well for the most part. I only know of one other that stayed in the area.
❤ lmsp
Cha
(295,929 posts)I experienced a near burning down of our home in the '70s in Asheville NC. And that was panicked enough!
You were so lucky to have already moved out.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)I was hoping it would rain all evening.
They're illegal here, but that isn't stopping the idiots. They know that the police won't do anything. My daughter told me someone who has a family member on the force told her that unless they fireworks start something on fire, they don't bother with citing anyone.
A couple of years ago a teenager lost most of one hand, and they didn't cite anyone then either. It's infuriating.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I am going to have to research the history now.
I appreciate your support. Thanks, Rorey.
❤ lmsp
Rorey
(8,445 posts)This is the worst I can ever remember. Nobody on my little street/circle is shooting them off, but we must have gotten some new people in the neighborhood.
I don't have dogs anymore, but I doubt I'll see three of my four cats for awhile. They didn't come to eat this afternoon because this has been going on the entire day.
To me, it's just burning up money at the cost of terrifying animals. I hate them.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)They started going off since this morning. It's been nonstop noise for the last 3 to 4 hours. I can't go outside because the air reeks of sulfur. Our new dog is terrified. He won't stop shaking.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)being traumatized. I'm sick of noise and danger. Total waste of time and money. I can think of a hundred things that would be a better idea. I'm sure you can too. Thanks for your support, Rorey.
❤ lmsp
bucolic_frolic
(42,679 posts)there's the boom, the flash, and a second later the fallout on the leaves. Can't be healthy for them. They're supposed to have adequate space for fireworks, but no one is going to stop them. Last year the cops weren't even interested. No one is going to enforce anything.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I think it would be better for us all if we just did away with them entirely, for the trees and the critters.
❤ lmsp
yellowdogintexas
(22,119 posts)all over the place. There have been episodes for the past 3 nights.
We now have a fireworks hotline and I have already called them twice. They are quite pleased that we call. The ones I keep hearing seem to be to the northwest of our house.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I am quite sure that money would be appreciated by whoever is in charge of finding funds for children's food programs. Still to have a designated hotline seems like progess, if not patronizing.
❤ lmsp
DetroitLegalBeagle
(1,905 posts)I know cops in Michigan will not respond to fireworks calls around this time of the year. Dispatch will tell the caller they will send a car to check it out and that's it. They won't even relay it to the cops on patrol. Even when they were illegal here, the cops just didn't bother.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I don't expect much for having made the call except for the smidgen of comfort I felt after having someone hear my concern.
❤ lmsp
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Fireworks are a low priority. (Translation: NO priority)
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)I've got a bad headache and gee, today is my birthday.
I'm in bed trying to get some rest and not feel so damned old.
No such luck with a sonic BLAST going off every two seconds!
DAMN THIS CRAP!
Good on you!!!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I hope your headache goes away soon.
Thanks for your support.
❤ lmsp
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)As I said, not exactly what I had in mind for when I'm sixty-four! *ack*
However, I DO HAVE MY CATS!
Thank God for cats!
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Well, I wish it could be more happy for you.
CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)IT SUCKS and I HATE HATE HATE HATE fireworks!
Thank you regardless!
niyad
(112,440 posts)May this coming year be a damned sight better than the old one. May you get a wonderful delayed present on 3 Nov.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)the fact that democracy is dead.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Fireworks are so last era.
❤ lmsp
oldsoftie
(12,410 posts)As it has been many times in the past.
llmart
(15,502 posts)but most ordinances say only the day before, the day of and the day after the holiday. You think anyone is going to enforce that? Ever since it became law these idiots start weeks before and they'll continue weeks after. They even do it on Thanksgiving.
Mostly it's guys who like to see things go "boom" like they never grew up, and the cops just look the other way because they're mostly just like them. I say if they like to see/hear things go boom they should join the military.
I don't mind it as much as I used to when I still had my dog. She's been gone two years now and every 4th I remember how awful it was for her and for me. She would not settle down all night long.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I'm definitely in the same boat, llmart and I'm sorry to hear you lost your dog. I hope you find comfort in the happy memories she left behind.
❤ lmsp
Bettie
(15,998 posts)I'm inside with two terrified dogs. Actually, they are terrified if they are alone, apparently, Mama makes it all OK.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)❤ lmsp
Marthe48
(16,693 posts)I live in an idiot neighborhood, in a state that has outlawed fireworks. The State Highway Patrol barracks is within sight of our street, one of the troopers lives on the next street and a county sheriff lives towrad the end of my street. And yet, once again, I am surrounded by idiots shooting off fireworks. Not just tonight, although last night, tonight, and tomorrow will be the worst. They have been building up for the last week.
I called a few years ago, because it was very dry and people on the street behind us were shooting fireworks into our sweet gum trees and some smoldering remains landed on our roof. The houses right behind us are empty this year, the other fireworks are noisy, but not threatening. That doesn't keep me thinking nasty thoughts.
I have 2 ideas.
1) All the idiots should pile their expensive fireworks together and SET THEM OFF ALL AT ONCE The end
2) Instead of each neighbor spending hundreds of dollars on an essentially pitiful display, give the money to the community fireworks display fund. If my neighbors did that, there'd be an incredible display at the fairgrounds. From the sounds of the explosions outside, they could personally endow the 4th of July Celebrations forever and buy themselves a seat on the board with the dough they dropped on their little poppers. Marietta, Ohio has 3 great fireworks displays every year. Two of them are lightly attended. I saw those and never bought fireworks after that.
I think it was good you asserted yourself. The time I called the cop, the dispatcher said they would come to a neighborhood unless somebody complained.
AllaN01Bear
(17,383 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Dukkha
(7,341 posts)Holy freaking hell it was like a war zone! Every 200 yards I was cringing and ducking. I really came to appreciate how hard it is for people with PTSD and dogs this time of year. People who get off on this shit need to learn some damn empathy.
RainCaster
(10,691 posts)WTF is all I can say.
Xolodno
(6,341 posts)....a house lighting off fireworks (and its illegal here), not the safe ones sold by a next door city, but obviously obtained from somewhere else.
They didn't stop.
And sadly, I can't blame them. If everything goes on with out a hitch....no big deal because, they will get a call to put out some fire somewhere. Meanwhile, I'm sure the Sheriff's department is preoccupied with drunk driving checkpoints, responding to disorderly behavior at a party, etc. Because the goal is to arrest people...not cite them for blowing up fireworks. As a former DA told me, the police have one job, that is to arrest people. That's what their performance reviews are based on. It justify's the budget and keeps them employed. Citations are what the Highway Patrol does.
So there is very little enforcement. Sure on the local news they mention how they busted a few people with huge stashes of illegal fireworks that they were selling from their garage and if it went off, the explosion would be massive, etc. But that's for appearances and they hit people who cross over to Mexico, a state where its legal or Native American Reservation, buy in bulk and then try to profit off of it.
But your average Joe or Sue, who buys a few for their local household, they aren't going to bother with.
gopiscrap
(23,674 posts)we lost our house to house fire also had to jump off the roof at 10:30 on a cold and rainy January night. It was started by a defective coffee pot.
DonCoquixote
(13,615 posts)like done at Amusement parks or sports arenas or waterfronts. There, professionals have made preparations to make sure that matters are controlled, be it fire risk or people's health. However, what happens in backyards is that a bunch of idiots try to do their own little show, acting like they are some epic event. It is a classic attitude of screw the experts, I know what I am doing.
Response to littlemissmartypants (Original post)
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seta1950
(932 posts)Its illegal where I live , but nobody care , what scares me the most is sparks are flying all over our roofs, imagine a scenario where one starts a 🔥 and our dogs have to be medicated.im so sick of this.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)If there's any hint of a holiday the locals are shooting off guns & fireworks. So, of course there's the worry of fire.
Lots of gunfire also at other times. We do give the local hunters permission to be on our property and we know to expect it in hunting season, but at other times it's disturbing.
Also, we've got teens riding ATVs & dirt bikes in the woods, on the road, and occasionally right through our garden.
Something about the noise those things makes is extremely anxiety-inducing. It wouldn't be so bad if we had any idea when it might stop. Sometimes it goes on for 4 or five hours straight.
My husband is very against calling the police for any reason, so we haven't reported even the garden-damaging intrusions.
And there are no noise ordinances in our township, fireworks are apparently legal, and, you know , 2A, so not much we can do.
MyMission
(1,845 posts)My damn neighbors on 3 sides, all a good distance away, were setting off stuff all damn night.
I was comforting the animals. Noise died down a bit after midnight. But I kept hearing explosives until 4 pm.
I thought about calling to report noises disturbance, but didn't want the hassle. If I was worried about fire, I absolutely would have called. It's troubling to have to call cops/ sheriff for any reason, but sometimes we have to.
Maybe next year I can hook up a sound system or get a megaphone and reply to them
"It's after midnight. Stop the racket. It's after 1 am. Stop the racket. It's after 2 am ... And I'd be cited for disturbing the peace. Lol
If I didn't have animals I probably could have slept through it, after midnight or 1.
It upsets me that even if folks are doing fireworks safely, too many don't consider the noise or that they're disturbing their neighbors and all animals, domestic and wild.
Sounds like you live in a wonderful spot with a great garden. And you have either luck or a guardian angel on your side.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,211 posts)I've considered complaining to the HOA, but I don't know if I'd be allowed to remain anonymous. My feeling is that they should take these activities to a non residential, open air area where there's no chance of embers falling onto rooftops and cars. I'm always left cleaning my yard and driveway of someone else's debris.
The Wizard
(12,482 posts)is from Trump supporters who feel they have a license to be assholes. They could be lashing out because all the polls show him losing badly. They stopped after one O'clock. I thought I was in another firefight. Shit was exploding in all directions, and it was mostly federally banned explosives.
People have to understand that their right to be an asshole ends at my doors and windows. The PTSD gets ratcheted up this time of year.