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I realize as a Californian we may not count as "American" in this particular zeitgeist stereotype. But FWIW we have a firework ban in Nevada County that is wide

I realize as a Californian we may not count as "American" in this particular zeitgeist stereotype. But FWIW we have a firework ban in Nevada County that is widely respected. There are very few violations and the law is actively enforced. The difference is we are in a no-joke dangerous fire situation and everyone recognizes it. Most people know better than to set off incendiary explosives in a forest. Anyone who shot off illegal fireworks would immediately be shamed and censured by their neighbors. I guess it's a form of commune-ism.

rayiner 2mo ago
[flagged]
- alsetmusic 2mo ago
  I saw a video of fireworks over LA from the window of a descending airplane in the last several years and it was pretty beautiful. They were everywhere. I genuinely don't understand how this has never been a news headline throughout my entire life until now. We have closed air-spaces. We know when fireworks will be deployed. The article didn't specify any reason this would be different, but I would think there is a reasonable explanation. Maybe this happens all the time and I just haven't noticed.
- FuriouslyAdrift 2mo ago
  There's nothing libertarian about Cali... you're thinking of New Hampshire. Cali is fairly split between all shades of the socio-political spectrum (big difference bewteen Central valley and the coast, for example). Greed and cultural narcissism is what you are seeing. It's a "gold rush" culture. It's been that way for a very long time.
davemp 2mo ago
Yeah I think that’s the difference. On the east coast in July, the big safety risk with fireworks is generally to your own person.
gosub100 2mo ago
It's funny that CAs own "environmental" laws actually created the tinder box conditions in the forest. So their solution is more laws, of course.
- NelsonMinar 2mo ago
  The premise of this statement is wrong.
  - foobarchu 2mo ago
    I'd argue the conclusion is wrong. The premise, that places like CA are currently such tinderboxes as a direct result of preventing natural burning and continuing to develop in areas that need to burn to stay healthy, is extremely well supported.
gilrain 2mo ago
I grew up in southern CA, in a dry pine forest. I can assure you the children I knew traded and set off fireworks. We were all envious of the families who brought them back from Mexico — they had the best stuff. I guess rules-followers assumed we were all doing as they did.
- MomsAVoxell 2mo ago
  It’s all fun and games until you burn down a few thousand houses.
  - trillic 2mo ago
    The biggest forest fire I know of in Southern California this year was caused by a boater using his government mandated safety flares. If there was not a law regulating the use of these incendiary devices, Santa Rosa may not have burned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Island_Fire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Island_Fire
    - antonyt 2mo ago
      Your own link contradicts the assertion you’re making about the origin of the fire.
  - adamredwoods 2mo ago
    Not entirely sure, but this fire aligns with July 4, and has one death: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wildfire/update-numerous-structures-burned-by-chelan-hills-fire/article_63f7d8f7-eb9a-48e5-87de-4b22bbc02635.html https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wildfire/update-numerous-stru...
inspector-g 2mo ago
I too live in Nevada County. While I largely agree with the claim that most people recognize and respect the safety implications, most years I still see (or hear) illegal fireworks. It’s clearly the odd individual doing it and not the majority of people, but the asymmetric risk they impose is a real bummer and I would love to see more/better enforcement of the restrictions on such individuals.
boogieknite 2mo ago
There was a similar cultural shift in the Portland OR area after fireworks caused the massive Eagle Creek fire 9 years ago. This is the first year that it seems like firework activity returned to the pre-fire levels. 250 baby! (/s)

rayiner 2mo ago

[flagged]

alsetmusic 2mo ago
I saw a video of fireworks over LA from the window of a descending airplane in the last several years and it was pretty beautiful. They were everywhere. I genuinely don't understand how this has never been a news headline throughout my entire life until now. We have closed air-spaces. We know when fireworks will be deployed. The article didn't specify any reason this would be different, but I would think there is a reasonable explanation. Maybe this happens all the time and I just haven't noticed.
FuriouslyAdrift 2mo ago
There's nothing libertarian about Cali... you're thinking of New Hampshire. Cali is fairly split between all shades of the socio-political spectrum (big difference bewteen Central valley and the coast, for example). Greed and cultural narcissism is what you are seeing. It's a "gold rush" culture. It's been that way for a very long time.

davemp 2mo ago

Yeah I think that’s the difference. On the east coast in July, the big safety risk with fireworks is generally to your own person.

gosub100 2mo ago

It's funny that CAs own "environmental" laws actually created the tinder box conditions in the forest. So their solution is more laws, of course.

NelsonMinar 2mo ago
The premise of this statement is wrong.
- foobarchu 2mo ago
  I'd argue the conclusion is wrong. The premise, that places like CA are currently such tinderboxes as a direct result of preventing natural burning and continuing to develop in areas that need to burn to stay healthy, is extremely well supported.

gilrain 2mo ago

I grew up in southern CA, in a dry pine forest. I can assure you the children I knew traded and set off fireworks. We were all envious of the families who brought them back from Mexico — they had the best stuff. I guess rules-followers assumed we were all doing as they did.

MomsAVoxell 2mo ago
It’s all fun and games until you burn down a few thousand houses.
- trillic 2mo ago
  The biggest forest fire I know of in Southern California this year was caused by a boater using his government mandated safety flares. If there was not a law regulating the use of these incendiary devices, Santa Rosa may not have burned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Island_Fire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_Island_Fire
  - antonyt 2mo ago
    Your own link contradicts the assertion you’re making about the origin of the fire.
- adamredwoods 2mo ago
  Not entirely sure, but this fire aligns with July 4, and has one death: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wildfire/update-numerous-structures-burned-by-chelan-hills-fire/article_63f7d8f7-eb9a-48e5-87de-4b22bbc02635.html https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/wildfire/update-numerous-stru...

inspector-g 2mo ago

I too live in Nevada County. While I largely agree with the claim that most people recognize and respect the safety implications, most years I still see (or hear) illegal fireworks. It’s clearly the odd individual doing it and not the majority of people, but the asymmetric risk they impose is a real bummer and I would love to see more/better enforcement of the restrictions on such individuals.

boogieknite 2mo ago

There was a similar cultural shift in the Portland OR area after fireworks caused the massive Eagle Creek fire 9 years ago. This is the first year that it seems like firework activity returned to the pre-fire levels. 250 baby! (/s)