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Officials Worry About Increase In Residential Fireworks Displays

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Tent operator Jay Long prices fireworks at a Galaxy Fireworks tent at the corner of Sheldon Road and Hillsborough Avenue.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2008

TAMPA - As cash-strapped governments and community organizations cinch their belts in this struggling economy, fireworks displays are among the offerings falling by the wayside. And as expensive displays dwindle or disappear, more and more backyard pyromaniacs will be putting on their own shows, authorities say.

The fear is that in the hands of non-professionals, fingers could be sacrificed.

Budget crunches are affecting everyone and as cutbacks take their toll, fireworks shows may be sliced. The result troubles fire rescue officials.

"Unfortunately as communities are being forced to cancel professional fireworks displays," said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade, "there is a concern that residents will take it upon themselves to do fireworks displays in their own neighborhoods.

He said that is dangerous.

"Even though the law allows the fireworks vendors to sell fireworks to residents, you still have to sign a piece of paper that basically is a lie," he said. The paper says the buyer "is going to use the fireworks for legal purposes which are quarrying, farming, and railroading."

"And," he said, "I haven't seen any farms or railroads in my neighborhood recently, but there are sure a lot of fireworks going off."

Bump In Backyard Booms

Bell's Fireworks owner Robert Stahl said there is a slight downturn in large-scale professional shows offered by his company across the Southeast, but the big crunch is a year away.

"It's not as big a problem this year as it may be next year," he said. "I believe many of the cities factored in shortfalls this year," and left enough in budgets for fireworks displays. "But I don't know where we're going to be next year, because of budget cuts."

Typically when governments drop the axe on frills like fireworks, businesses and community organizations take up the slack, he said. But this economy is hitting everyone, he said, and that may mean the usual displays may be derailed until the economy rebounds.

While that part of the 25-year-old fireworks business ebbs, he said, the retail market flows.

"When you have something traditional for 15 to 20 years and all of a sudden, the community can't afford it," he said, "private individuals purchase their own fireworks."

Especially around holidays, he said. "People tend to forget about their problems and try to celebrate and have a good day."

While it is legal to purchase explosive fireworks it technically is illegal to fire them off. But few ever get hauled in for it.

"Our position is that we need a complainant," said Hillsborough County sheriff's Cpl. Rob Rodriguez. "If someone calls in and is willing to be a complainant and willing to press charges, we will go ahead with an investigation."

Deputies are typically busy with more pressing matters on holiday evenings and answering a call about firecrackers is not a priority, he said.

"We are literally running from call to call," Rodriguez said. "There are calls holding. It's like triage in a hospital. Our main focus is to protect public safety."

Pinellas County sheriff's deputies also use discretion, said spokeswoman Marianne Pasha.

"If the deputy observes something that may be dangerous, it pretty much has to be a flagrant violation, we will react," she said. "Deputies use their discretion and we will respond to calls and if necessary, deputies will confiscate the fireworks.

"Everybody's just got to be safe," she said.

Economic Fallout

Among the pyrotechnic casualties is a program of Friday night fireworks, a series of seven-minute shows at Channelside that was to have taken place from June through August, shows that were to be funded by a group of downtown businesses.

But the contributions waned in the sagging economy, and most disposable cash was heading toward 2009 Super Bowl programs, said Kathy Walsh, property manager for Channelside Bay Plaza.

"We will still have Fourth of July fireworks," she said. But a fireworks show on Labor Day is still undecided.

"We will just have to wait and see," she said.

Plant City, St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island all have withdrawn funding for their traditional Fourth of July fireworks displays because of tight budgets.

A joint fireworks display for residents of Indian Shores, Redington Shores and North Redington Beach has been canceled because of budget cuts.

In Tarpon Springs, the fireworks show was within a sparkler's width of being canceled, but was saved through an $18,000 private donation last month. The city had taken the $22,500 reserved for Fourth of July fireworks and used it to repair a municipal emergency radio station.

Corporate sponsorships pay for fireworks displays in Largo and St. Petersburg, and Clearwater has continued its bankroll of the annual display at Coachman Park. In all, about 20 Bay area communities are putting on fireworks shows.

WFLA News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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