To camp or live in a war zone

The days before and after July 4th resemble a war zone in our neighborhood.  In particular there is a family of Russian heritage that lives just across the street and a couple of houses down that sponsors a huge gathering at their house on the 4th and they culminate their celebration with a huge fireworks display using possibly every illegal firework known to man including tannerite.  We suffered through this for 2 years after they moved in but for the last two we have just headed out to Branson and camped for five or six days.  This year we didn't reserve our spot early enough and as a result we are not in our preferred campground but in one where there is very little distance between you and your neighbors on both sides.

So the question is:  Go camping and cram yourself into to a smaller than normal spot and save the sanity of our two cats and a dog (all of whom cower at the loud sounds of fireworks) or just stay at home and grin and bear it.  Last year we came  home to a lot of fireworks debris on our roof.  This year, as the result of working with the local police on a drug case in the neighborhood we have a good connection with the local police - the chief.    I am thinking of asking him to have his patrols maintain a close watch on the Russians house and it's use of fireworks to the point of being a danger to neighbors.  The local police are generally overworked around the 4th with fireworks complaints so it may be tough to get any extra action.

I guess there is nothing any of you can do to help me decide but I do appreciate having a place to rant.  I am thinking of doing both - camping and asking the police chief for special patrols in order to insure I have a home to return to instead of a pile of burned rubble.

Bill

Some folks don?t have much or any concern for their neighbors. Loud music, loud cars and/or motorcycles, fireworks, party?s that go well into the early morning hours. I would rather the local police utilize their time more efficiently than patrolling looking for noise offenders. I don?t know what to tell you Bill. It?s a shame you have to leave your house because you have jerks for neighbors. I?m sure it won?t do any good, but have you tried talking to the offending neighbors? Maybe enlist some the other neighbors to go with you.

I wouldn't put up with it. I'd be on the phone to the police the first time a fireworks goes off and every 15 minutes there after if needed. You already said that fire works drops trash was all over your roof. You know that's very dangerous. We had a boat one time at the lake and the neighbors 4 camps away had fireworks one night. A piece of the litter landed on the boat cover and started a fire. The deck got burnt real bad before someone was able to put it out. We were not there at the time. Stand your ground.

For a number of years, we used to spend the 4th afloat with other members of our boat club and 4,000 other boats anchored at a designated anchorage on our Delta waterways. It was noisy (some folks had been there a week, non-stop drinking and whatever else), and there was a huge pro fireworks display from a barge located near the home of the owner of Hilton Hotels. Lots of folks having fun, but this was definitely a zoo, and finally became too stressful, with countless boats breaking loose in the stiff current and high winds, and we quit attending.

I'd come home from several days afloat, not knowing if our house was still standing. Two of our homes (including our current home) had shake roofs, while one had a concrete tile roof. Folks in our neighborhood love to set off illegal fireworks, and I was always afraid that a shake roof would ignite with a hot firework. This concern didn't change when we started staying home on the 4th, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief when we re-roofed some years ago.

One of our dogs freaks out with fireworks, and Chris wraps her in a blanket while we're still up, and she (the dog) hides under my pillow if we're in bed.

Oldgator73 said:

  I?m sure it won?t do any good, but have you tried talking to the offending neighbors? Maybe enlist some the other neighbors to go with you.

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Actually yes.  Last year they got an early start even before we left and when one explosion knocked two pictures on the wall askew I decided that was enough.  It was 10:30 and, at that time, no fireworks were allowed after 10 pm.  So I marched over there and told one of the sons on the lawn that we needed to talk and to get the fireworks stopped before 10pm.  He is about 20 years old and he just told me to get off his property (I was standing in the street) but his mother ran out quick and told the son to get in the house and told me they would stop.  The did but the next night it was all the same again. 

Actually the police do have the time to respond to noise complaints as that is the majority of their calls during that week.  When we had the drug problem at one house in the neighborhood I worked with their undercover guy and they had patrols every 30 minutes and boy did that clean out a major problem.  Normal fireworks are tolerable but these folks carry it far far beyond the limits.  So I at least will make an effort to have the police try and stop the problem.  Many other neighbors are also upset but too afraid to call police as they don't want retribution. I am old and stupid enough to not worry about that...lol

Bill

A couple of years ago some new near-neighbors decided to set off fireworks late at night. I walked out onto our deck and bellowed "fireworks are illegal in this community and, if you don't quit, I'm calling the Sheriff". I have no problem projecting my voice, and even more so over water. The fireworks stopped immediately, and we didn't hear them again. The following morning, our new next-door neighbor said "I hope you know it wasn't me setting off those fireworks, it was my other neighbor".

I guess the whole neighborhood heard me that night, and I later received light hearted comments from several folks, including folks on another bay.

Bill,
If you suspect the neighbors are using illegal fireworks or pose a real danger the I'd try calling the AFT and discuss your concern. The AFT is tasked with regulating and enforcing the law on explosives, which includes fireworks. Homemade fireworks are really explosive devices and construction of them can come with a hefty fine. I"ll bet a visit from some AFT folks would make them sit up and take notice.
Just my 2 cents.

regval said:

Bill,
If you suspect the neighbors are using illegal fireworks or pose a real danger the I'd try calling the AFT and discuss your concern. The AFT is tasked with regulating and enforcing the law on explosives, which includes fireworks. Homemade fireworks are really explosive devices and construction of them can come with a hefty fine. I"ll bet a visit from some AFT folks would make them sit up and take notice.
Just my 2 cents.

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  Thanks.  Can you tell me what AFT stands for so I can look them up?  I just tried and it comes back to American Federation of Teachers.  Could it be ATF ?

Bill

I suspect he meant ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

I have a neighbor just like that, only the 4th is whenever he feels like lighting a few bombs.
All the dogs in the surrounding area hide when he starts this crap.
My neighbor actually lost their pup for a few days because of it.
We get the heck out of here around the 4th. My pups hate the explosions, as do I.

regval said:

Bill,
If you suspect the neighbors are using illegal fireworks or pose a real danger the I'd try calling the AFT and discuss your concern. The AFT is tasked with regulating and enforcing the law on explosives, which includes fireworks. Homemade fireworks are really explosive devices and construction of them can come with a hefty fine. I"ll bet a visit from some AFT folks would make them sit up and take notice.
Just my 2 cents.

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Thanks for the tip. I will use it next time pyro boy has an episode.

Just another reason to not have nearby neighbors. Glad my closest are at least a mile down the road.

Bill N said:

  Thanks.  Can you tell me what AFT stands for so I can look them up?  I just tried and it comes back to American Federation of Teachers.  Could it be ATF ?

Bill

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Sorry... Acronyms...ATF = Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms : https://www.atf.gov/explosives

I had an experience years ago where some young adults thought it would be funny while igniting the normal assortment of fireworks to explode an improvised device made of a bundle of sparklers, basically creating a small bomb... injuries occurred to some and local police arrested a few. Days later the ATF showed up with a warrant.  To this day, that house doesn't participate in fireworks displays .... don't know what message was delivered, but the results speak for themselves.

Presume there are no fire restrictions in your area.

Is it worthwhile also considering contacting the local fire department and stating your concerns to them?

Just a thought.

Here is what I am doing.  I contacted my old buddy undercover agent with whom I worked earlier this year on a large drug bust in our subdivision.  He is a drug specialist but tells me that the Chief can contact ATF and request their assistance on certain cases.  But he  plans to ask the Chief to first make a visit to the house next week and talk with these people, explain to them the fireworks laws of this community and lay out for the the fact that homemade fireworks are illegal.  Then they will maintain a closer patrol of the area in the days preceding July 4 because that is when they generally start shooting off some of their stuff. 

Let me make it clear that they are not the only ones shooting off fireworks in this subdivision and that it is legal to do so during certain hours and certain days before and on July 4.  It is the nature of the stuff they use.  One year when we were here, the next morning the entire street in front of their house was covered with fireworks debris.  The mother (poor soul endures this nonsense) went out with a broom and took hours to try and clean it up but still a lot was left.

Thanks to those who are responding.  You give me hope.

Bill

Rene T said:

I wouldn't put up with it. I'd be on the phone to the police the first time a fireworks goes off and every 15 minutes there after if needed.

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In some cases July 4 fireworks break no laws. In other places they do.
But re-read my user name. I was a police dispatcher.. Not so much July 5 but 12/31 long about 2330 military time (11:30 pm) all police returned to station. and stayed there, inside a concrete building, till around 0030 (12:30 am,) had one patrol that got caught out at midnight. the Troopers were OK since they had the good sense to take shelter but the vehicle had multiple bullet holes front and rear.

John From Detroit said:

In some cases July 4 fireworks break no laws. In other places they do.

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Unless they have noise ordinances which most do.  After 10 PM, it should be quiet time even if it is July 4th. Many families have little babies who get scared to death because of fireworks. 

Bill,
Tannerite can only be set off with a high caliber weapon shot. If fireing a rifle in your neiborhood is against the law that might get a better police response

Bob

Robert K said:

Bill,
Tannerite can only be set off with a high caliber weapon shot. If fireing a rifle in your neiborhood is against the law that might get a better police response

Bob

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That's right Bob and I researched that myself too.  But I have seen and heard tannerite explosions and these sound just like that.  But there definitely is no gunshot.  I can see them walk out to the street, place the item and then just stroll back to their driveway which is only a few yards away.  The concussion is dramatic - enough to move pictures on my walls about 60-70 yards away.  Has to be some homemade concoction but it does NOT damage the street surface.  Any ideas what it might be?

Bill

Sent my email to the police chief on Monday and he got back to me on Tuesday assigning a Lieutenant to work with me.  The Lt called me and we discussed the problem and he said he will be going over to talk to these people and give them a copy of the laws that pertain to fireworks.  In the meantime another neighbor who lives even closer to the scene tells me the loud and very percussive fireworks they use are M-80s.  Those require an ATF license to use and are for commercial display use so that must be the stuff that was rocking the pictures on my wall.  We shall see how it works out.  The police said that the biggest way they will stop them is if they are setting them up in the street thereby blocking the road (they are).  They have only a small front yard that is usually covered with people, drink bottles and cars so the street is their only alternative.  Today when I drove by I got a real nasty look.  I guess the police made their visit........lol

Bill

Never heard so many old cronnies in my life whinnying about fireworks one day ayear
Boo hoo just turn down your hearing aid.lucky I don't live next door