Is Montgomery County not equipped to handle Fourth of July fireworks, or are safety standards set too high?
Montgomery County Council members grilled fire and public safety agencies Thursday about recommendations that the county not hold a fireworks display to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
“Have we now learned we can’t have fireworks in Montgomery County?” Council President George Leventhal asked. “Is there any reason to believe it will be any different next year?”
Fire Marshal Mike Donohue said they looked for a location with 100 feet of clearance for every inch in diameter of the fireworks to be set off, but could not find any venue in the county with adequate parking and safety precautions. Staff assumed the county would not want to host a display of smaller than three-inch shells.
Previous displays at Wheaton mall had to be cancelled when a shell ignited roofing material last year.
“We cleared the people back as far as we could. Last year we ended up with a problem,” Donohue said.
Council members asked staff to reconsider a display in Germantown or at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring.
