Too many people don't know what they're doing when it comes to fireworks, which is why we see so many fires and injuries.  I grew up in a state where there are not as many limitations on fireworks, and I never once saw anyone get injured.  Maybe we just had more sense, I don't know. I also think I was spoiled with good fireworks, because the ones that you can buy here are pathetic, honestly.  So yes, I agree with you, it's not worth it for people to be using personal fireworks here in Bakersfield. If you want good fireworks, watch the shows.. they're the closest to a real fireworks display you're going to get around here.

I was at a local block party were the neighbors must have dropped $1,000 on legal fire works.  Everything started safe and sane with the fire works being set off one at a time on a board suspended between two ladders in the middle of the street and plenty of fire prevention gear around.  By the end of the night things were getting a little crazier with setting off of multiple fountains to see how big it could get.  I guess it is part of human nature to see how big of a boom you can make.  What got me though, was the ride down 99 that night.  There was so much smoke in the air it looked like a fog bank had rolled in. 

It's Fraze, Benham, Lois, and my whole family.  Thanks for the column.

Sure gets my vote Lois.

As I said in another blog on this subject, I'll be holed up over my poor little HEPA filter that night. I'm not sure it's quite cut out for the task, but it's better than nothing. Also, for all those pet owners out there that plan to tranquilize their animals, make sure to call your vet Monday instead of waiting until the last minute. Vets are going to be very busy this week.

After a quick trip to splash some wilting plants in the backyard, and chewing the air briefly ( a smoky combination of pine and eucalyptus mixed with a grainy metallic flavor for the discerning palette) I find it hard to understand why any person would want to call setting off home fireworks in Bakersfield fun. The normal climate and air quality around the 4th always figures to be hotter and more noxious than Vulcan's crack. Why anyone would want to  add a significant  blast of more chemicals and toxins to the current state of smoke, pesticide and emission scum is beyond me.

Add our little family to your Enemy of Fun group.

when is it going to end ...........slowly all our joys will be gone..........then what!

When my kid outgrows fireworks in a couple years, then I'll join the rest of the old grouches.

We might as ban cars too...............and motorcycles.............and auto racing..................and hang gliding..............................and football........................and smoking.............................crab fishing.............................and sun bathing...............................and boxing.........................and skateboarding........................and firefighting................and rodeo's.................and cops........................and construction ..............and fighter pilots...................and down Hill skiing...................and scuba diving..........and fast food.............Because all these things are dangerous and can cause injury or death...................

No one made any money off of me for fireworks in 20 years, I've always thought the block party crap was just that. I guess in this regard, I've ALWAYS been old. Dislike the noise, smoke, smell  and garbage and the idiots who think the fourth runs from the time the stands start selling until July 6th or 7th. STUPID HOLIDAY!

Rickldo you are just plain unamerican..........unpatriotic...........lol

Rickldo

Please move next door to me!

I also don't decorate my house for Christmas. Why put up lights only to take them down the next month?

Sorry gube, I'm patriotic, just not into the wasting of money, polluting of the air, the whole shmear. Silliness...

Aud, you seem like you'd be a great neighbor. You'd probably never see or hear me...

rickldo I am just kidding with you.......

I to hate putting up and taking down Christmas lights...............so I just leave them up year around........

gube, isn't it dangerous having those lights so close to the bathtub that you have in that tree in your front yard?

I know your joking gube. No biggie...

How long will the above misspelling stay un-commented upon?

I also hate going to see a baseball game and having to stand for the national anthem, you're just gonna sit back down again.  Or taking my hat off and placing it over my heart when the flag passes during a parade. What a waste. You're just gonna put it back on again.  Silliness....

I KNOW!

And what's singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"? You're **already** there...duh!

unAmerican then; am I. 

rick

 Well you'd be a 100% improvement on my neighbors to the east.  They hold Friday Night Fights every week.  The entertainment value is over and now it's just noise.

Hope you were kidding drilnliftcrude!

I won't buy fireworks this year, the air quality is bad enough right now. In addition, at last years block party, I was inside at 9 because the smoke was too much for my lungs. Hopefully at the block party this year, we won't have many fireworks, as all of our kids are in their teens or older now. The worst thing about the block party is hopefully just this darn heat and air quality!!!

I'm all over a BBQ on the 4th, and going to BC for the pro show. It's the rest of stuff that seriously bugs.

I was fortunate enough to be travelling through the Philly area on 7/4/01. I was driving a truck and the shipment was due the following day. Nothing to do but wait. I reset my TV to Philly channels and found that The DOI would be read by celebrities on a special that evening. Nice! From Philly! Really Nice! 

That evening I was awed by the fireworks display broadcast nationwide, from a spot I was within 3/4 mile of. I was watching on TV and could look out my window and see it a few seconds earlier than the rest of the nation. Chillbumps man, nothing but gooseflesh!

So, I'm patriotic, just low key... 

Benadryl Childrens Liquid.  I've been giving sips of it to my poor pooch for his wheezing and itching.  The noise doesn't bother him apparently but the allergies do and I'm told it's a great tranq.  Look up safe doses on google. 

The only reason I go to the block parties is because Mark (motopoet) makes ice cream.  Trouble is, his freezer broke so it looks like I'm ice creamless this year.  Maybe I'll pass on the party too.

It's the tire flattening crap left in the road on the 5th, by the nematodes who don't give a poop about anyone else, that bothers me.

Oh and  the smoke on the 4th.  It's unbearable.

Nudists + Fireworks = Burn Unit. We used to do the "safe and sane" fireworks, but their just too expensive anymore. I think the people who put up stands for fund raising are going to lose money this year. What with gas prices, the bad air, the Fire Marshall and Arnold telling people to not buy fireworks, they are in real trouble. They should have put up lemon-aid or snow cone stands instead. Or, perhaps fresh air breathing stations and oxygen bars.

The problem is,  the people who are REALLY into fireworks are neither safe nor sane.  Makes you think huh.

I've had allergies bad enough to cause hives this year so I'm thinking I need to just go for a drive up the mountain for the evening.  Or at the least, stay home with the door shut.  Claratin has taken care of the hives and sneezes (even though I don't like it and it makes me sorta sleepy) but I don't want to chance it not being strong enough to hold up under the added smoke.

Nancy, I would avoid being "up" in any mountains this year. I'm sure some bonehead will set them all on fire with their "safe and sane" fireworks. As dry as it is, I would rent a boat and sail out to the middle of Lake Tahoe for the weekend. You should be safe there.

Nancy

I think it's time they were banned.  When something causes so much trouble for other people it's time to give it up. 

There are lots of other ways for families to have fun on the 4th.

BTW Benedryl is my best friend this time of year.

H8, I was thinking more along the lines of Tehachapi and back.  Not too far from home, just out of the valley for a couple of hours.

Audrey, I bought the childrens liquid so I could control the dose because that stuff knocks me out.  I used a little and decided to give some to Zack.  It seems to help his scratching.  The vet said Westies are prone to skin allergies.  Of course he wants to give me expensive meds and anti allergy pet food but that's out of my budget.  The little runt sleeps most of the time so the benadryl doens't have any effect on him that way.  :-)

Good column Lois.  Bako people should head for the beach as the air in Kern is literally killing you.

H8cloz, but then you could get stuck out in the middle of Tahoe if all the shoreline goes up in flames. The ocean is better, you can sail to another marina if needed :)

Or, just keep on sailing to some remote South Pacific Island where I'll become King and build a clothing optional city...AND BAN FIREWORKS. Just dreaming.

Pismo would be a great place to go if only the entire populations of every city from Fresno to Bakersfield and in between weren't already there, with their fireworks.

That's OK. I will buy enough fireworks to offset you all!

MWAAHHH HAA HAAAAAAA!

Three cheers from Porterville another town full of firecracking yahoos.

Won't someone just at least shut down the fireworks stands before they open? I know we can't stop the illegals, but it is insane to pump tons more smoke and particulate matter into the air with the air quality at the worst level ever!  

Hey Porter

I thought  fireworks were banned in Tulare County.  Anyway they were when we lived there 20 years ago.

Mumford, the permits have already been issued for the stands and the owners have already purchased their fireworks from their distributors. So that boat has sailed for this year. In more affluent times, it might have been an option to reimburse the stand owners for their expense, but to shut them down without reimbursement at this point wouldn't really be fair to them.

A  friend  whose father sells fireworks through his church said they have a "buy back" agreement with the fireworks companies so whatever they don't sell, gets purchased back.  I don't know if that's for full price or not...

I guess I fall under the "fireworks fanatic" group. I like my fireworks, although in NC where I came from they were much better. We had bottle rockets, M-60's, roman candles, blackcats, etc. The fireworks here, if you wanna call them that, suck. All they do is smoke (except the smoke bombs, they smoke about 10sac if you are lucky) & spit a little colored spark. The people that have gotten really hurt (more than a small first degree burn) are usually modifying fireworks, same thing would happen if most people tried to modify most anything, they would get hurt. The fireworks shows here are a joke, they are expensive, seating sucks & the kids like to do not watch. I'll keep doing my fieworks with the rest of my neighbors, when they do get outlawed in the state of Kalifornistan, I'll find another way to celebrate the fourth. As far as the particulate matter in the air alot of it comes from up north & we end up with it down in the south end of the valley due to the mountains, maybe if the cities up north loike Sac, Stockton, Manteca, Fresno etc would start watching their polution ours would get better. If yo don't think the smog, etc comes from up north just check out the news from the fires up there & the smoke clouds coming this way.

Kalifornistan....I love it....I to grew up were we had real fireworks....we used to have bottle rocket fights.........We would stand about 100 feet away from each other and fire bottle rockets off at each other.....those were fun times .....no one ever got hurt....Few burnt fingers that's all..........Some people wont be happy until everything is taken away from us.............When we attack to traditions of the birth of this country its a sad day in America.............Land of the free..........ha

Everybody forget about indenpendence day.I sure didnt fireworks are a great thing for family traditions and americans

don't rain on our parade.

National holiday with imported fireworks from "China", where`s that money going ?

Another American faux pas.  Ain't America stupid.

Here we go again. Blaming the objects, and not the people. Why don't we ban guns, knives, cars, and mcdonalds french fries for that matter. No wait, let's ban alcohol across the country because it jumps down peoples throats, and then forces them to drive, and it's the culprit responsible for the 1/3 of all vehicle related deaths across the country. Heaven forbid that we take responsiblity for our own actions. I mean, Jack Daniels should be doing time for vehicular manslaughter. Or we could even charge Ronald McDonald with terrorism and mass murder for the killing of thousands of obese people and clogged arteries everywhere. If a kid gets burned with a firework, because he thinks it's cool to go pick it up while it's shooting out sparks at over 1,000 degrees, then he deserves to be burned. And the parents deserve to be charged with child neglect causing bodily injury. Come on people, let's stop blaming our stupidity on things, and start taking responsiblity for our own actions. The objects we use, are only as smart as we make them. If I point a gun at a person and pull the trigger, then I'm the idiot who deserves the death penalty. Not the gun, or the knives, or fireworks. One thing that fireworks do in fact do is they generate thousands of dollars for non profit organizations like the Kern Kiwanis, the Bakersfield Hispanic Chamber of commerce, Teen challenge, Etc, etc. Stop blaming firworks.  And start blaming yourselves.

Great post cnote!

"One thing that fireworks do in fact do is they generate thousands of dollars for non profit organizations like the Kern Kiwanis, the Bakersfield Hispanic Chamber of commerce, Teen challenge, Etc," cnote

Hunan Provincial Firecrackers & Fireworks IMP. & EXP. Corp.

China Starry Night Fireworks Co.,Ltd.

Goldtree Fireworks Export Co.,Ltd

China Qingcao Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Monkey Fireworks Manufacturer Co., Ltd.

Jiangsu Jianhu Pyrotechnics Industry Ltd.

Zhejiang Menglei Import & Export Co., Ltd.

Jinan Bestar Inc.  

Ningbo Lica International Trading Co., Ltd.

Cnote, difference between fireworks and alcohol is that even responsible use of fireworks causes problems. Those who have issue with fireworks this year are primarily concerned with air quality. Responsible use of fireworks fouls up the air just as badly as irresponsible use of fireworks. It's not about people burning themselves, others and property (because that's been an issue for years); it's about the air quality going over 200 last week. You can be as responsible as you want with your firework display and it's still going to emit smoke and chemicals that will contribute to the already abysmal air quality.

If you're so concerned about air quality, why don't you walk or ride a bike to work, or anywhere you go for that concern? Or turn your electricity off, and use flashlights. How about you grow your own food, so you don't depend on diesel transportation to feed your family? Makes no sense huh. My family lights fireworks off once a year, once. everybody drives pollution 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, nobody's doing anything about it..... And so what if they're imported. They still make non profit organizations money. We depend on all types of foreign trade, so don't go singling out the firework industry just because they're mainly an asian based market. The banannas you buy, as well as the toyotas you drive don't cause a whole lot of concern for you. And they cost you money to drive, even after you buy them. If anything else, our careless use of energy will make this country forever dependent of foreign oil. How bout that....  Hmmm. This is just another example of people who want to blame irresponsibility on materials than people themselves. Furthermore, does anybody on here really realize how much we are already contributing to pollution with our cars, air conditioners, barbeque pits, tons of diesel emmisions, etc, etc. But take those away, and our life is extremely inconvenient. The issue isn't fireworks, that's a small part of it, it's our entire way of life.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. But we just have such a tendancy to want to ban everything in the world that causes problems, instead of using them wisely, and the way they were designed to. Fireworks were'nt meant to be destructive. But we make them that way. It's people. Change our ways. One of the wisest statement says "Change begins in the mirror." 

I have to say that if you ban fireworks I think that the accidents would get worse with people getting a hold of illegal fireworks. Even now a lot of people use illegals which I feel are the problem with many of the fires. Legal fireworks are much safer and do not shoot up into the sky landing on home owner's roofs. In the early 1900's alcohol was made illegal, but people still managed to get a hold of alcohol. I think the same would happen if fireworks were illegalized. People just need to be more educated on the proper use of fireworks and parents need to be little more responsible regarding what their children are doing on that day. Fireworks do not harm people, its uneducated with fireworks that cause the harm.