After reading Marc's thread I thought I would start this one with my dilemma. I live in a neighborhood of newer houses, fairly close together on small lots (10,000 square foot lots), and there are several families with small children in the area. One of the families stores fireworks in their garage for a week or two around the 4th of July as they are involved with a Church group that runs a fireworks stand. We aren't talking about one or two boxes of fireworks, more like a small moving truck worth, probably enough to fill 1 to 2 bays in a garage. Now these fireworks are of the "legal" variety, firecrackers, bottle rockets, small mortar shells, etc., no M-80's, quarter sticks of dynamite or commercial size mortar shells. While it is legal to possess these fireworks in small quantities, it is extremely illegal and a major fire hazard (or so the police and fire department would say), to store them in large quantities in your garage in a residential neighborhood. We have had a very long (long for us) streak of dry weather, and recently had a case of house arson about 3 miles away. I shudder to think what might happen to this house and others in the area (including mine across the street) if this house were to catch on fire. Last year when he did it, we off handedly mentioned that it didn't seem very safe to be using his house to store fireworks and he just kind of shrugged it off. So today the Ryder truck comes with what we beleive is this year's supply of fireworks. He is a good enough neighbor, quiet and doesn't complain about the revving of car engines or even some some of the burnout marks in the street left by GTO's Camaro's and Buicks. None of us in the neighborhood are saints! So the question is, should I (or one of the other neighbors with small children who is also worried) call the fire/police department and report them? I don't know what the authorities would do, if they would "write them up" make them move the fireworks, or confiscate them, or threw them in jail. Or are we over reacting and should we just turn the other way and hope that nothing bad happens? It is a fund raiser for their church after all, and I would hate to have the fireworks taken away and them lose all the money they invested. Please give me some feedback and share your thoughts!
Yes and No. We have one, but it is pretty much inactive. We told the President about it last year and he said he would look into it. That was the last we heard about it. Of course, he is at the other end of the street! They probably don't want to risk the church blowing up!
Why doesn't everyone on the block get together and offer to break up the fireworks and store some at their house?That way they would not all be stockpiled in one place. If they are kind enough to shrug off the hot rods,help them out with the fireworks. Just my opinion though.
Tough situation, but I agree that other storage options need to be looked into. Think of his garage as being full of gunpowder, instead of fireworks...
Becareful Chris. If they are reported, get a citation from the police and the insurance company finds out, they might get their homeowners insurance voided. I would go up to your neighbor and mention the consequences of having those fireworks stored in his garage. Hopefully, he'll get some sense and move them to a safer place where they aren't a hazard to people. It's too hazardous to keep them in a residential area, especially with small kids. Remember when we were young and loved to play with anything flammable, lol.
Go out in the middle of the night and put a sign on the front lawn"FREE FIREWORKS" with an arrow pointing toward the house:laugh: :laugh: owen
i agree with rob about going to the guy before i did anything else. a good talking to might be enough to get him to see it as a fire hazard, and move them out on his own. i know if my neighbors have a problem with something, i would prefer they come to me first rather than call in the govt. i had my unrestored 40 coupe sitting in the driveway for about two days before i washed it, and put it in the garage. i found out that someone called the town and made a complaint. they all come to me when they want a jump start, or help with a tire, but then they snitched me out to the govt. , i didnt like that. i would go to the homeowner first, and see if you all can work something out. just my two cents. henry
Deal with the situation between you and your neighbor; how would you like it if someone called the cops on you?
I would approach the neighbor and explain diplomatically he will be reported next year for the good of the neighborhood. That will give him an opportunity to sell off his inventory. If the cops get involved, your neighbor will be your new rivals. Good Luck
If its true that other neighbors are also worried about this then get them together and go to the neighborhood association. Ask the president if you can draft a letter to be presented to Mr. and Mrs. Powderkeg from the association. This way all the lame duck pres has to do is approve it and it keeps you from having to play the bad guy all by yourself.
Another idea would be to speak with the Pastor of the church (assuming the neighbor is not), or even write a letter to the church. You could remain anonymous this way. I'm sure if you voiced safety concerns with the church, they would agree it is not safe especially since we nearly hit 90 this week! (hot for us here) I would think a storage unit would be a better place and shouldn't cost more that $200 at most for two months... I sold fireworks for a couple of years for boyscouts. The markup is very large and the cost of a storage unit can be re-couped relatively easily.
Guys, Thanks for all of the advice, although I am a little late in reading in. Looks like it kind of worked out as you guys suggested. Talked to the neighbor, and he was surprised anyone even knew about it, since he did at mid morning when everyone was at work and even covered up his garage window with a sheet. He wasn't interested in moving it, and he didn't really think it was our business or that we should be bothered with it. So it did take a quick visit from the fire marshall to convince him ov the danger. A moving truck was back within two hours of the Marshall leaving. Not sure what she said, but when one of the other neighbors talked to him he said the guy looked like a kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and didn't really want to discuss it. He didn't seem upset about it, as he seemed to realize the danger after the chat with the marshall. Thanks to all!
So Chris, did the Fire Marshall say the same thing about the 10 55 gallon drums of VP racing fuel in your garage? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :Brow: j/k
Nope, I don't have any "race fuel" in my garage. I have no room for it, I have a newer house with a garage built for a Honda, and after I stuff two GS' in there and my wife Durango's, they is barely enough room to walk around. Now I probably still have a couple of gallons of Xylene left over from my turbo Buick, but that is it! None of my cars need race fuel anyway, they are slow and stock, and they aren't planning any trips to the track in the near future.
...then they have no excuse for storing them where they can blow you up! Storing them in the church is a fine alternative, there's no reason why they can't do that. They're doing this to save a few bucks on storage then you shouldn't have to foot any of the risk as a homeowner. I'd talk to the guy first, tell him your side of it. I know I'd prefer to have the nieghbor come to me first. If the guy is being a jerk after that then you can call him on it.
