What’s with all the fireworks every night?
Complaints up 600%, but mostly only in city
With community fireworks shows largely called off this year, Wisconsin residents have flocked to roadside fireworks stores to stock up.
In Milwaukee, complaints about fireworks have grown more than 600% as people report hearing periodic small explosions on an almost daily basis.
But the cacophony — and complaints — seem to largely peter out at the city limits. Most suburban police departments haven’t seen an increase in fireworks-related noise complaints this year.
Regardless, fireworks buyers should proceed with caution, emergency responders say, because several communities prohibit the use of fireworks and they can pose a serious risk of fire and injury.
Here’s what we found out about the prevalence of amateur fireworks shows in and around Milwaukee — and what you should do if you’re concerned about them.
Fireworks complaints are way up in Milwaukee, but not elsewhere
Milwaukee city officials said Monday that amateur fireworks have become a constant occurrence this summer, even though they’re illegal in the city.
“Anecdotally, it’s been every night,” Milwaukee Ald. Bob Bauman told the Journal Sentinel. “Multiple locations. All amateurs, because there are no official fireworks.”
The Milwaukee Police Department has data that would prove what Bauman said.
Police have received more than 1,000 calls for service related to fireworks — up from 150 in 2019.
In neighboring Glendale, the Police Department has also seen a rise, having received 15 fireworks complaints as of Wednesday — during the same timeframe last year, the department had received just one, spokeswoman Kelly DeJonge said.
DeJonge said police have investigated every fireworks complaint, and believe all the fireworks originated in Milwaukee.
Most other communities around the city of Milwaukee have not reported more noise complaints than usual for this time of year.
Franklin Police Chief Richard Oliva said he hasn’t heard of any fireworks complaints, but he’s sure that calls will start ramping up soon. He said the department typically receives complaints throughout each year, and they are anticipating an increase in calls for 2020.
Lt. Bridgette Paul of the Greendale Police Department said they’ve received five complaints this year since May 1, the same number as last year. Two individuals were advised of the fireworks ordinance, and officers could not find the source of the noise in the other three complaints. No citations were given.
In St. Francis, officers haven’t seen an increase in noise complaints, according to Lt. Jeremy Harcus. Officers have responded to five fireworks complaints and warned people about the city ordinance but have not issued citations.
Brown Deer has received eight fireworks complaints so far this year, compared with seven total last year and 11 in 2018. But complaints did start about a week earlier than they typically have, Brown Deer Police Chief Michael Kass said.
Pewaukee has also received earlierthan-usual fireworks complaints, Pewaukee Police Chief Timothy Heier said. As of June 23, the department had received three complaints. In 2019, they had zero by that date.
Other communities such as Greenfield, Menomonee Falls, Germantown and Brookfield have reported very few to no noise complaints regarding fireworks. None of the complaints from those communities, according to various police personnel, are unusually early or more frequent than last year.
Riverwest resident Elena Pires said she’s been hearing fireworks for weeks, a change from past years when they’ve emerged just in the immediate weeks before and after the Fourth of July.
“I’ve heard fireworks from early afternoon to midnight,” she said. “The randomness of it is what’s frustrating because you can’t expect it.”
She hasn’t filed a complaint to police because the response time would keep them from finding fireworks users.
“Unless it was really egregious, like going on for very many hours or aiming them at people or something, I wouldn’t report it,” she said.
Fireworks sales are up in Wisconsin
While complaints haven’t risen much outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin fireworks sellers have seen a boom in sales — including from customers who say this is the first year they’ve purchased fireworks to set off at home.
“Sales are off the hook,” said Vince Siegel, co-owner of American Fireworks in Big Bend.
Business has been trending upward for the past few weeks, but the increase in sales relative to past years became particularly stark Father’s Day weekend, Siegel said, adding that he’s heard from others in the industry that sales across the country have doubled.
At Phantom Fireworks in Caledonia, manager Ryley Harlow said sales have increased so much that the store is seeking to hire more employees.
It’s typical for Phantom to see lots of business between Memorial Day and Independence Day, Harlow said, but this year has been even busier than usual.
Siegel said this year was already expected to be a good year for fireworks sales, since July Fourth falls on a Saturday.
Siegel said he’s seen many new customers, and thinks demand for fireworks is related to people wanting to — literally — blow off stress after months of mostly being at home.
“Some of them just want to get out there and do something. … People are very happy when they walk through the store,” he said.
One reason people are hearing fireworks being set off in neighborhoods this early, he said, could be that families who’ve purchased their July Fourth fireworks have been pressured by their children to set off one firework early. Once one goes off, it’s hard to resist a second or a third, Siegel said.
“It’s like saying you’re going to have only one Dorito,” he said.
Yes, neighborhood fireworks are (mostly) illegal, because of fire and injury risks
Fireworks are illegal in the city of Milwaukee, and those who violate the ordinance could face fines of up to $1,000.
A majority of suburbs surrounding Milwaukee ban fireworks larger than sparklers, and require a permit for fireworks shows at events like weddings and graduations. Some suburbs offer no opportunity to apply for a permit, and fines for setting off illegal fireworks can be over $300.
The City of Muskego allows the use of fireworks from July 3-5. The Muskego
Police Department reminded residents via Facebook and a meme that a $35 permit is all that’s needed to legally set off fireworks.
“We’d love nothin’ more than to show up and tell your complainin’ neighbor that they’ll have to let freedom ring till 11 p.m. as you paint the sky with “the good stuff,” I aint talkin’ about no snakes and sparklers,” the post said.
The mishandling of fireworks and potential for injuries are among the reasons why many neighborhood fireworks displays are illegal.
Kenny Asselin, captain of fire prevention with the West Bend Fire Department, said Milwaukee County and its suburbs will likely see an increase over last year’s totals of fireworks-related injuries and fires.
“There’s not one single professional fireworks show anywhere in Milwaukee County,” he said. “People are going to have their own fireworks shows for their celebrations.”
Asselin said sparklers can be dangerous, too. Sparklers account for an estimated 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Over 90,000 fireworks injuries occurred nationwide from 2010 to 2018, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report.
Siegel, with American Fireworks, says staff in his store has been educating customers on how to use fireworks safely, and encouraging them to use them only where and when it’s legal.
“People should be lighting fireworks in designated times and spaces that are safe,” Siegel said. “If you’re in Milwaukee and you’re living somewhere where the houses are 6 or 8 feet apart … what goes up must come down.”
For Pires, in Riverwest, the noise is a nuisance, but she is concerned for seniors, children, pet owners and people with disabilities.
“I have worked for over 10 years with people with autism, many of whom struggle with sensory processing,” she said. “Loud and unexpected noises can be extremely distressing for them.”
Oak Creek Police Chief Steven Anderson said most of the complaints his officers have received so far have come from veterans and pet owners.
“Some people are shooting them off close to their neighbors’ houses,” Anderson said. “We’ve had fireworks get knocked off and shoot between houses before, so it can be dangerous. That’s why all of those fireworks are not legal in Oak Creek.”