Illegal Fireworks Sparked Throughout Town

Alot of good those unanswered calls did funny huh?

Me me me me me me--Can't anyone have a thought for anyone else these days??

Amen! I've only managed to get through about half my fireworks stash. I still have tons of Roman candles (my favorite), Chinese flowers, not PC, but too bad, LOL, buzz bombs, M500s, fountains, bottle rockets. Crazy how much you can get for 250.00!

I'm thinking about firing them all off tomorrow night--where do you live? I'll come by and pile them all up in front of your house and go FOR IT!

Alex - Don't forget your MAGA hat, but make sure you leave your face mask at home. Don't wanna look like a pussy.

Don't forget the M80's. Will sound like a huge bomb going off.

With any luck, the macho "patriot" will poop his pants.

They had bigger explosives than m-80's...

Hey, Pacific Soul, I'm headed over, see you at abut 9:00 and we will start fighting off my pile around eleven. Be sure and have a bunch of cold ones because there's no way I'm lighting off that many fireworks sober!

Dude, I'm obviously trolling.

RHS: I think you meant to write "loud reports." And I completely, utterly, whole-heartedly sympathize regarding your dog's suffering and your loss of sleep. We used to have noise sensitive dogs and would often resort to leaving town on the nights the 4th of July and Parade of Lights "fun" was scheduled. We have had close friends whose dogs were killed by cars, thanks to the dogs trying to run from the booming noise and getting lost in traffic. I personally rescued a huge black dog who was running for its life one 4th of July (a new moon night)----it's a wonder that dog wasn't hit by a car, too. For some reason, though, there are a great many people who don't "get it." They don't understand-----or care---- how the animals suffer (not just pets) and they don't care that the fireworks add to air pollution either. It's a damn shame there are so many heartless, silly people.

Minibeast, thanks for the nice thoughts. But, no, I did not mean 'report'
but rather retort. It is a word used to identify the sound that follows the firing of a cannon or similar weapon, usually when the weapon hits a target or explodes at a distance as do fireworks. I did look up the dictionary definitions which do not include this usage. But is is a long standing one. For example https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mortar-men-cringe-from-the-loud-retort-of-their-mortar-as-news-photo/515209430

The problem is the sheer multitude of neighbors doing it. It was happening EVERYWHERE! I grew up loving fireworks and until the dog that I currently have I had NEVER had a pet that was scared of loud booming noises before but this guy was so scared and it has been hell, for a lot of JUNE actually and the past week was Armageddon to him. Saturday was unreal, with house/window shaking fireworks being burst from several parts of the neighborhood and my poor dog only could find solace under the bed with his blanket and with all the windows shut, fans blasting, white noise, tv blaring,... yet still it didn't stop the panic for him,. What a nightmare for so many of our dogs.

and tie up the courts with something as worthless as this? they scared his dog....lol ok

Byzantium, Small Claims Court is to recover actual damages. I don't think that it includes pain and suffering or emotional distress. It would include the cost of a vet bill or repair of the damage caused by a fire. It does not, as I recall, allow for injunctive relief by the way. And as people have to live with their neighbors it won't be a very pleasant year until the next 4th of July.

Small Claims Courts exist for these types of actions - citizen to citizen. They use volunteer judges, often have mediators available to work out issues ahead of time and are truly the way citizens can get legal redress at low cost. Small Claims are a public service and do not "tie up the courts". That is their sole purpose - to be used for these smaller matter resolutions, peacefully and cooperatively. No lawyers allowed. Yes, you can get injunctions. The current limit for damages is $10,000 per claim. Multiple neighbors can sue for the same offense, which collectively at $10,000 each has proven to be a very effective deterrence, when shown the offending party has created a public nuisance. Go to the Small Claims website and learn more about this important public service. Learn how to not misuse Small Claims courts - anti-vexatious litigant provisions also apply.

apartment complex in Northridge set on fire after fireworks set adjacent palm tree on fire. 50 people lost their residences that night. Another nearby building set on fire but they were able to quench that one quickly.

You really are stuck on the whole tradition thing, aren't you? Are there any traditions that you have thought about and stopped doing? I'm thinking the answer is no.

Zerohawk--Personal fireworks are not legal in SB, and haven't been as long as I've lived here (62 years). And there were more on Saturday night than I can ever remember hearing, and they lasted well past midnight. All the dogs in our neighborhood were terrified. We live in a fire-prone area. It's stupid to set off rockets! I'm sure you saw the carport fire reported in Goleta. You might feel differently if it was your house. Or your kid who got hit by a misfired rocket, or even a cherry bomb. Personal responsibility and risk-taking makes sense if what you're doing doesn't affect others. But like drunk driving, fireworks can do a lot of damage. If the risk you take doesn't put others at risk, go ahead. If it does, that's a whole different matter.

Fireworks on the 4th of July are expected. Fireworks in my neighborhood have been going off every night from 5:30 pm until midnight since the first week in May until now. I can medicate my dog and ensure I'm home for a few nights a year but every night for 2+ months is ridiculous. My dogs weren't bothered by it last year but this year they won't go outside to relieve themselves in the evening, they shake and hide under furniture and I have to close up my windows and doors ever night and swelter inside. My dogs fear and anxiety withstanding, what about my rights to a little peace and quiet and a good night's sleep every night. I jerk and get upset every time they go off...not so much in May but it's cumulative. What is wrong with our society that we don't have some consideration for others. I always enjoyed July the 4th but now I am dreading it because of a bunch of entitled, selfish narcissists.

I've lived in this eastside neighborhood for about 25 years and have never seen/heard so many fireworks set off here for many days before the 4th and then on the night of the 4th from about 8:30 'til after 11 pm. I'll quote McClain, "I always enjoyed July the 4th but now I am dreading it because of a bunch of entitled, selfish narcissists." --- my opinion exactly.

9:38 - Not necessarily negligence per se if you light off a firework. The law is never that cut and dry. You're throwing a lot of legal jargon around there (time, place and manner - con law, burden - crim, neg. per se - civil lit., etc..) so I would assume you know that, or else you found some Nolo guides ;)

The NY fireworks were shot over a series of days, mostly in the commercial downtown, taped and rebroadcast. They didn't go on and on and on day after day, all over NY.

At least they had something to watch. That's what I'm saying. Don't cancel the fireworks!! BTW.....a series of days = day after day.

LCP - right? I was saying this from the get go - no need to cancel fireworks. Just close the beaches (as they did anyway), but allow the show to go on. If anyone was surprised that people still shot off fireworks (and way more than they would have if there was a show), then that's on them. It would be absolutely absurd, and un-American, to have a 100% firework-less Independence Day!

EL BARBARENO, you are the history guy, right? You usually have thoughtful posts and comments. This one is as lame as it gets. You sound rightful upset that locals flaunt traffic laws and that is somehow a justification for people to break the longstanding local laws against possessing and using fireworks. Those laws are much like the ones that prohibit public defecation. Are you OK with someone dropping a dos in front of your casa?

What-About arguments in favor of law-breaking. My debate coach would be very upset.

Classic Trump "but what about" distraction from their sins and corruption. How it ever became an argument that one can do wrong and excuse it by pointing to others doing other wrongs is beyond my upbringing. ("Two wrongs do not make a right.")

Undocumented fireworks?