New petition supports banning fireworks shows past 10 p.m. in Johnstown

Publish date: 2024-09-27

Johnstown, PA (WJAC) — Is 1 a.m. too late for firework shows?

While the Fourth of July firework shows are now in the past, what is still present is a growing concern surrounding firework activity in Johnstown.

We spoke with community members who are in favor of a new petition that would ban the use of fireworks in Johnstown past 10 p.m.

Community members argue that fireworks not only keep people awake but can trigger animals and people who suffer from PTSD.

Fireworks also leave debris on private property and, as we saw in Upper Yoder Township earlier this week, can also cause fires.

Johnstown City Council member Marie Mock issued the following statement in response to the new petition.

I don’t think anyone wants to eliminate the use of fireworks altogether, however it’s becoming a literal free-for-all warzone in the city neighborhoods, with professional grade fireworks and explosives being shot off everywhere, at all hours of night and early morning. The fact that the houses are so close together, that creates a fire danger, as evidence in Upper Yoder Township. Also, the noise is very disturbing to animals, people with PTSD, special needs adults and children, etc. Residents have complained about the remnants landing in their pools, porches, yards and on cars. Enforcing the ordinance on the books is extremely difficult given the volume of people doing this, but something needs to be done, that’s for sure.

We also spoke with Johnstown Fire Chief Robert Statler who provided the following advice for residents when they use fireworks.

“Basically, watch the size of the fireworks you are getting and where you’re setting them off. You don’t want to be too close to structures and you want to know where they are going and where they are going to land. So, you don’t want them randomly going into someone’s property, dry fields, stuff like that.”

There will be a city council workshop Wednesday night where firework concerns will be addressed by city council members, including Mock and Statler.

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