Friday, March 29, 2024
39.0°F

FIREWORKS: No longer worth risk

| July 7, 2021 1:00 AM

I’d like to respond to the LTE from Jay Martin (County: Clueless on fires, July 1) challenging Kootenai County’s timidness about saying “no” to fireworks.

He’s absolutely right! It’s such a no-brainer that, in a time of drought and severe wildfire risks, we say NO to the use of anything combustible. It’s WAY past the time we reign this in at a time of widespread drought and tinder dry conditions!

It’s shocking that some municipalities don’t have the guts to say “NO” to the increasing use of pyrotechnics and that they still allow the sale of “personal fireworks. All it takes is one spark. These are dangerous times and, without controls, we’re facing apocalyptic devastation of our beautiful land and homes.

In Coeur d’Alene alone, the lake fireworks have become over-the-top, with local business and civic groups begging for more money so we can have even more fireworks. Besides the obvious risk of devastating fires, the noise and percussion waves from each explosion sends animals, domestic and wild, into a painful frenzy of fear and extreme anxiety. And, it’s well-known that our veterans of war, when surrounded by loud, explosive sounds, takes them back to painful battlefield memories.

Once used solely to celebrate America’s Independence, now fireworks are also used for unregulated private events as well, provoking anxiety to every being that has to endure the selfish use by others. Also, it’s a well-known fact that animals -domestic and wild, are displaced during this time than any other time of year. Not to mention the intolerable traffic, tons of left-behind trash strewn on beaches, Tubbs Hill, downtown streets, etc. Why do we tolerate this?

Let’s get back to common sense. Municipalities must seriously consider the many threats that exist to our towns, our citizens, the elderly, animals, veterans, neighborhoods and forests from a patriotic holiday that has gotten way out-of-hand. Instead, let’s return to a sensible celebration of America’s Independence.

IRENE SMITH

Coeur d’Alene