There is an ordinance coming through the City Council process that would roll back restrictions on consumer use of fireworks in Keene. I think fireworks cause a lot of environmental damage and other harm, and would like to keep the restrictions where they are.
First off, note that we are talking about allowing fireworks for consumer use , not commercial displays like at the college graduation or a baseball game. Commercial displays are already allowed through a city permitting process. But all the growth in the fireworks industry is in consumer fireworks.
I would note that the above chart ends in 2020, which was a bumper year for fireworks, when consumer fireworks flooded the market for pandemic supply-chain-related reasons. I recall people around the neighborhood setting off fireworks every night, to the endless annoyance of my beloved wife. Flashing lights and loud noises give her a headache.
That was in my neighborhood in East Keene, which is pretty densely populated. The new rules would not allow fireworks in neighborhoods like mine – they are to be restricted to the rural and agricultural zones. While I am deeply skeptical of how well that restriction would be honored in practice, launching fireworks in rural areas comes with its own problems.
Noise pollution is high among them. That loud report – BANG BANG BANG snap snap snap snap snap – freaks out all animals in a surprisingly large radius. The effect on dogs is well known, but also consider the effect on wildlife – especially as our ordinance pushes these displays into the rural zone. Many species will simply desert areas where such disruptive human activity is present, retreating deeper into the woods or disappearing altogether.
Fireworks noise can also be a triggering factor for some veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People on the autistic spectrum can also be affected by the combination of loud noises and flashing lights. These concerns can be mitigated somewhat, in the case of commercial displays, by prior announcement and notification to neighbors in the area – but there will be no such mitigation for consumer fireworks, which people might launch off at any time without prior warning to those who may be affected.
Fireworks also cause a lot of air pollution. Keene should also be specially attuned to air quality issues given its geographic setting, on the floor of a glacial valley that is subject to atmospheric inversions. If fireworks are launched during an inversion, the smoke – high in particulate matter and laced with toxic metals - can be expected to linger in the city for an extended time.
In addition to these toxic metals – potentially including lead - residue from fireworks includes perchlorate. Perchlorate is an oxidizer used in fireworks that makes the rocket burn, and is also a thyroid disruptor, posing a risk to human health as well as to the local ecology. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently running studies on how perchlorate from fireworks is affecting local watersheds, soils, and sources of drinking water.
And of course there is the litter. Fireworks create so much litter. Don’t get me started.
Also fireworks contribute significantly to the risk of, you know, fire.
If you live in Keene and, like me, you aren't a big fan of this change, your best bet is to get in touch with your City Councilors and let them know - their contact details can be found on this page.
The topic will also be up for discussion at the meeting of the Planning, Licenses, and Development Committee at 6:00 in City Hall on Wednesday, April 12. Be there if you can!