8 Urgent Reasons Why Fireworks Must End Now

Fireworks must end now. The carnage of July 4th, 2025, has laid bare a truth we can no longer ignore: fireworks—all fireworks, not merely illegal ones—are destructive relics whose time has passed.

Los Angeles, July 15th, 2025 – From burned homes and lost lives to poisoned air and traumatized animals, the damage is undeniable. A practice that is literally medieval -dating back to the 11th Century and possibly even earlier – belongs in the history books and not terrorizing animals and people in the 21st Century.

Around the world, communities are embracing alternatives such as dazzling drone shows and vibrant light displays that celebrate without devastation. Here are eight compelling reasons fireworks must end now:

1️⃣ They Kill and Maim Humans

In California alone, 10 people died over the holiday, including a tragic blast in Buena Park that killed an eight-year-old girl and the catastrophic warehouse explosion in Northern California that claimed seven lives. A Simi Valley man also died and a house caught on fire when fireworks exploded. A man was also killed in Pacoima when fireworks exploded, sparking a fire.

Countless others were injured: a sports star suffered an eye injury and a homeless man lost his eye. Two people were also injured in the deadly fireworks warehouse explosion.

2️⃣ They Spark Destructive Fires

Fireworks set off more than 100 wildfires in California this July 4th. A blaze in Laguna Beach forced evacuations and torched four acres of coastal habitat. These incidents drain emergency resources and put entire communities at risk.

3️⃣ They Poison Air and Water

Fireworks release clouds of toxic metals and carcinogenic particles. According to Earth.org, strontium, barium, and copper are just a few of the substances that settle onto soil and waterways.

The NIH has warned that particulate matter from fireworks contributes to increased mortality rates worldwide.

4️⃣ They Wreak Havoc on Wildlife

The bright flashes and concussive booms drive animals to abandon nests and habitats.

At Marina del Rey, over 100 pelicans disappeared overnight after the sanctioned July 4th fireworks; weeks later, none had returned. Egrets, cormorants, and seals have also vanished from the area.

“Fireworks traumatize and displace wildlife. They are neither harmless nor fleeting,” reported The New York Times (NYT).

“I’ve been devastated to walk along the Marina del Rey jetty and see virtually no wildlife after July 4th, when prior to the fireworks display there, I saw over 100 pelicans on the rocks, sea lions in the water and many egrets and cormorants. Terrorizing wildlife is self-destructive and plain dumb and we must stop it.” Jane Velez-Mitchell, UnchainedTV Founder

5️⃣ They Terrify and Kill Pets

More pets go missing on July 4th than any other day of the year (RSPCA).

Dogs and cats perceive these sounds as life-threatening. Heart attacks, injuries during escape attempts, and days of anxiety are common outcomes.

6️⃣ They Trigger PTSD and Trauma

For veterans of war and survivors of violence, fireworks are more than loud—they are unwanted re-enactments of trauma.

The VA has issued repeated advisories on fireworks as a trigger for PTSD (VA).
“You can’t just tell your brain that the explosions are celebratory,” said one Iraq veteran.

7️⃣ A Fine Line between Legal and Illegal

Even in tragedy, fireworks companies have evaded oversight.

According to the Sacramento Bee, the Northern California factory where seven people were killed in a massive fireworks explosion, “…lacked the required local permits” and the company’s owner  “…was eligible for — and received — state explosives licenses despite a felony conviction that barred him from receiving federal licenses from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.” We invited the company on to respond and dialogue at any time.

8️⃣ There Are Better, Safer Alternatives

Drone shows are already transforming celebrations worldwide.

France has replaced Bastille Day fireworks with drone spectacles that enthrall crowds without harm (DroneXL).

Communities across the U.S. can do the same, trading explosive destruction for breathtaking displays of synchronized light and color.

ENOUGH! NO MORE FIREWORKS… PERIOD!

A California legislator, State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, is looking to tighten fireworks rules and laws in the wake of the devastating loss of human life. Says “We’re considering and researching a set of legislative proposals to tighten up the state’s regulatory licensure role and then to make sure that the locals have the tools. We’ve been dealing both with some of the issues around licensing, but also the failure to abide by land use restrictions and other things that could have prevented this,” said Cabaldon.”

Our suggestion is to go further and outlaw fireworks entirely. The toll of carnage shows that they are inherently dangerous!

It is time to leave fireworks in the past, where they belong. Legal fireworks are not safe, and their widespread use fuels the proliferation of illegal ones.

We have the technology—and the moral imperative—to celebrate without causing death, trauma, and ecological ruin.

Let us honor our communities, our veterans, our wildlife, and our planet by ending fireworks for good.

This is an UnchainedTV Editorial