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Fireworks insanity

posted Jul 1, 2011 3:42 AM by Frank Dunstan   [ updated Jul 2, 2011 3:37 AM ]
I'm sitting at my computer listening to the noise of fireworks exploding all around me - it sounds like a war zone.

I'm also hearing on the Bushfires radio reports of several fires in the Darwin River and Livingstone areas. The first report was just before 8.00pm.

The main problem with fireworks is that they aren't just let off during the legal hours, but for months after. In what is predicted to be a potentially severe bushfire season I am very glad to be semi-retired from active fire fighting.

This report is from the ABC's website on Saturday morning, updated later in the day:

Three people have sustained facial injuries from fireworks during celebrations in Darwin and the surrounding area last night.

Fireworks lit up much of the region as the NT celebrated the annual Territory Day, which marks the transition to self-government.

But a 34-year-old woman was burnt in the neck and face by fireworks at Nightcliff foreshore, a 47-year-old man was hit in the face at Humpty Doo and a 33-year-old man was burnt on the neck and arm at Dundee Beach.

All three were treated by St John Ambulance.

A woman working at the Palmerston McDonald's was not injured when a firework was thrown [through] the door and exploded in her face.

Police were called to put out more than 207 blazes during celebrations last night - 158 of the fires were directly caused by crackers.


Saturday morning - the day after - and the Bushfires radio is running hot from fires at Darwin River and Livingstone. 

Volunteer firies from several brigades spent all day on the Livingstone fire.

I wonder if the people who strive so diligently to stop our early dry season prescribed burning program put in any effort to outlaw the sale of fireworks to the general public during the bushfire season? 

...

It's obvious that politicians don't fight bushfires or crew ambulances unless there are TV cameras around.

This was how the Northern Territory Government saw things in 1980:

Territory Fireworks Day

In 1979, Cabinet had considered whether the date of “Fireworks Day” should be changed from Guy Fawkes Day in November, but had decided not to change the timing of the event.  

Cabinet considered a further submission on this matter in February 1980 which argued that Self-Government Day was a more relevant celebration than Guy Fawkes Day and that 1 July offered more “clement weather” than November. July 1 was also a date favoured by the Lions Club which had been providing pyrotechnic displays on “Cracker Night” as part of the club’s commitment to eyesight conservation.  It was noted that fireworks celebrations in July would coincide with the tourist season and Darwin’s Bougainvillea Festival.

Around this time, other states were moving towards a prohibiting the use of fireworks by the general public due to the “high number of injuries and damage cases resulting from the mis-use of fireworks”.  The submission reported that the Bushfires Council, the Fire Brigade and the Firefighters Association did not support the public firing of fireworks due to the fire risk, and pointed out that the fire hazard throughout the Territory would be greater in July than in November.

A number of options were put forward, including a total prohibition on the sale and public use of fireworks while allowing controlled displays, permitting the sale of fireworks on 1 July only, continuing with the existing November celebrations, or permitting the sale and public use of fireworks on both 1 July and the Saturday nearest to 5 November.

Cabinet decided to implement a trial period during which the sale and use of fireworks to commemorate Guy Fawkes Day would continue and, in addition, interested service organisations would be permitted to stage fireworks displays on 1 July 1980.  Cabinet indicated that this policy should be re-assessed early in 1981.[8] 

http://www.cabinetrecords.nt.gov.au/1980/highlights/highlights4