Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

BIG BANG

June 25, 2012

Critics fear onslaught of injuries

By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

SCARBOROUGH -- Matt Linscott, of Biddeford, was like a kid in a candy store Friday, poring over cartons labeled "War of 1812," "Vengeful Texan" and "Live Free or Die."

"I've never seen so many fireworks in one place," he said as he and his friends Jon Cross and Jaimee Austin tried to figure out what would give them, literally, the biggest bang for their buck among the offerings at Atlas Fireworks on U.S. Route 1.

Atlas, along with Phantom Fireworks at the Gateway Shoppes Plaza, was seeing a steady stream of customers with the approach of July 4th, the ultimate fireworks holiday. This is the first Independence Day since the 1940s when fireworks have been legal for all people over 21 to sell and ignite. Both shops opened this month, joining several others across the state.

Atlas, along with Phantom Fireworks at the Gateway Shoppes Plaza, was seeing a steady stream of customers with the approach of July 4th, the ultimate fireworks holiday. This is the first Independence Day since the 1940s when fireworks have been legal for all people over 21 to sell and ignite. Both shops opened this month, joining several others across the state.

The Legislature voted to legalize the sale and use of consumer fireworks in Maine, though many communities have regulated their sale and use.

While popular with many consumers, the new law has its critics and already has had some negative side effects.

Police report a jump in fireworks complaints and reports of shots being fired, which they attribute to fireworks. "We've had 12 complaints for the entire year. We had three the prior year," Norway Police Chief Rob Frederico said. "It certainly appears that the majority of the complaints are coming from the in-town area, the more populated area." In the past, he said, most fireworks were set off by summer residents at lakeside cottages. There were few complaints, and little police could do about it since the displays were invariably over before police could pinpoint their source.

"We're certainly all hoping that it will be just the newness of the availability of them and that I would expect that come fall it will start to level off," said Frederico, who said that Tuesday he is filming a public service announcement for local access television about local restrictions.

Some safety officials and health care workers will be holding their breath as the first big fireworks holiday arrives. Besides injuries, there are more fires reported on July 4 in the U.S. than any other date, and half are caused by fireworks, according to state officials.

"Even when they were outlawed in the state, we always were concerned because we knew a certain amount always came into the state. Now I'm afraid it's going to be more of a free-for-all," said John Dean, former state fire marshal. Dean was on record opposing efforts to allow sale and use of fireworks in the state; and as a member of Gov. Paul LePage's administration, which favored lifting the ban, Dean was prohibited from testifying against the bill. Passage of the law by itself did not lead Dean to resign, but his decision was influenced by what he said was a campaign by the administration to roll back regulations which he felt were important.

"I'm still appalled they allowed this to happen. There's no question, in the states where the consumer fireworks are more readily available, there are more injuries and more fires," Dean said. "It's all about money. I might say it's blood money."

Dean said the law won't be changed until fireworks, which burn at more than 1,200 degrees, cause something drastic to happen or the child or grandchild of someone with influence is seriously injured.

(Continued on page 2)

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