Fireworks Again After 20 Years

I lived in Westminster from 1965 to 1977 and fireworks were a regular part of our July 4th celebrations.  In 1990 they were banned at a time when many cities were doing the same thanks in no small part to lots of roof fires caused by illegal skyrockets landing on shake shingle roofs.

Today most roofs are composites so the fire danger is a lot less and there are lots of people who would like to enjoy their July 4ths the way we used to.  Westminster is one such city:

After 20 years, the city will once again be illuminated with fireworks this Fourth of July.

On Thursday, local nonprofits began setting up their stands in a long-awaited effort to fundraise for their pet projects over the holiday weekend.

Thanh Nguyen of San Diego window shops at the Rose Center Foundation fireworks booth at the Asian Garden Mall. Volunteers expect sales to be big this year after a ban that lasted 20 years.

Shaun Miller, who grew up in Westminster, says she will now be able to share what she experienced with her children, who are 11 and 13. She was setting up a fireworks stand to benefit the Greater Grace Church, the Springdale Baptist Church and Iglesia de Communidad.

"We're not just earning money here, but we're getting to meet the community and share the spirit of patriotism," Miller said.

A performance by the Greater Grace Gospel Choir was planned Thursday night at their fireworks stand.

In November, 63 percent of the city's residents voted in favor of allowing Westminster to join five other Orange County cities in permitting the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks. The other cities that allow fireworks are Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton, Costa Mesa and Buena Park.

The Westminster fireworks ban, originally introduced in 1990, was addressed again in 1998, when a similar measure allowed voters to consider repealing the fireworks prohibition. But even then, voters struck down any possibility of lifting the ban.

Last November, voters seemed ready to celebrate Independence Day with a bang – again.
Vicki Morgan, the city's code enforcement manager, said the city has issued permits to 15 fireworks stands.

"This is an exciting opportunity for residents to celebrate this patriotic holiday with the inclusion of fireworks," she said.

As I was driving home last night I encountered one of those big flashing highway signs that declared "Mission Viejo is a Fireworks-Free City".

That's just sad. It doesn't stop the people on my street who have had a fireworks party every year since I can remember, but they're always keeping an eye out for the Sheriff's helicopter or a patrol car. And nobody's gotten hurt and nothing has burned down.

Let my people have fireworks!