Rampant Fireworks Irk Bucks Co. Residents, Police Ask For Calm

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — Officials in Bucks County are asking residents to think of their neighbors before blasting fireworks in their neighborhoods every night.

A message to that effect was released Thursday by Bristol Township Manager Randee J. Elton. It comes as residents all over Bucks County have complained about fireworks being set off almost nightly.

"One only must venture out at night on a short walk to hear fireworks in every direction," Elton said. "While we appreciate everyone's enthusiasm this year, we are asking our residents to be considerate to their friends, neighbors and emergency service workers."

Both locally and in cities across the country, authorities have been reporting nightly instances of people shooting off fireworks, beginning as early as May.

In the past few days, police in Perkasie, Warrington, Bristol and Tullytown have been among those posting publicly about fireworks.

"Please be mindful that some of your neighbors may not share the same enthusiasm as you," Tullytown Police said in a Facebook post.

While theories have surfaced about why it's happening — some tying the fireworks to racial justice protests that have taken place across the nation — retailers say it likely has more to do with people bored after long coronvirus shutdowns now having access to fireworks stores, according to the New York Times.

Pennsylvania Fireworks Laws: What's Legal, What's Not

Officials say it's been typical, in past years, for people to begin shooting off fireworks a few days before July 4. This year, though, has been different.

In her message, Elton asked resident to consider their neighbors' children, pets who are frightened by loud explosions, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and emergency services workers.

Dry conditions also mean the amateur fireworks displays could lead to fires, she said.

"Managing these conditions on a few holiday weekend nights each year brings enough risk. Is it worth the risk to our emergency service workers to celebrate with fireworks every night of the summer?" Elton said. "We are asking our residents to please suppress the desire to celebrate with fireworks except for those days which have been appointed and scheduled for celebration."

Bristol Township residents can make complaints to the police non-emergency line at 215-785-4040.

In 2017, Pennsylvania lawmakers repealed the state's old fireworks law, allowing more types of them, including firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, to be sold legally.

Pennsylvania is one of 46 states, along with Washington D.C., to allow consumer grade fireworks, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, though the fine print can differ in important ways from there.

Officials in New York and elsewhere have said they believe residents are buying fireworks in Pennylvania, then either setting them off themselves or reselling them.