By John Dobberstein, Editor
If there’s one thing in Broken Arrow that’s guaranteed on Independence Day, it’s fireworks — and lots of them. As our fair city and the entire U.S. prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, there will be rules enforced all weekend by Broken Arrow police and firefighters.
Justin Sharp, a fire marshal for the Broken Arrow Fire Department, said police and firefighters have an enforcement plan in effect for the holiday weekend. BAFD will have four “enforcement teams” dedicated to nothing but fireworks on Friday and Saturday.
The teams will be paying special attention to city parks and roadways and answering typical calls for service, addressing any safety concerns they find during the day.
“Unless they are actively violating the city ordinance, there’s not a whole lot of enforcement actions other than just making sure people are safe and that they’re not shooting off fireworks places they’re not supposed to be during the daytime,” Sharp said.
Fireworks are legal to use without a permit within Broken Arrow’s city limits on July 3 and July 4, but only between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. Individuals caught discharging fireworks outside those times will be issued a ticket, with zero tolerance.
After 11 p.m. firefighters often see a lot more complaints, Sharp said. “A lot of people that aren’t supportive of fireworks are going to be calling at 11:01 saying their neighbor is still doing it. So we’ll be addressing those situations until one or two in the morning.”
Sunday also figures to be a busy day, Sharp said, because it’s still the weekend. “People are still going to have fireworks and they’re probably going to be doing it.”
BAPD Major Stephen Garrett said while firefighters will have 8 people handling the bulk of enforcement, police will also respond to calls for service Friday and Saturday as needed.
On Sunday police will have two extra officers assigned specifically for fireworks enforcement, “and we are expecting that to be a heavy day for enforcement because it’s a Sunday, and then we’ll fill calls for any fireworks related offenses as well as anything else,” Garrett said. “We’re going to work together collaboratively to make this work.”
Fireworks must be discharged on a noncombustible surface and at least 25 feet from any permanent structure, and children under 12 must be directly supervised by a responsible adult. They must be used within 60 feet of your residence.
Sharp emphasized fireworks can only be fired off between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and no fireworks are allowed on streets wider than 26 feet, or main arterials.
Individuals must clean up their mess the same day rather than leaving it until morning.
To keep 911 lines open for life-threatening emergencies, the city asks residents not to call 911 to report illegal fireworks. Residents should call the non-emergency line at 918-259-8400. Do call 911 if someone is injured by a firework or if a fire starts.
It’s the responsibility of the person shooting off the fireworks to remove the debris on the same day the fireworks are discharged.
Think About Veterans
Broken Arrow is a veteran-friendly city. For many veterans, unexpected fireworks can trigger Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Nearly one in four veterans reported that fireworks have personally triggered negative experiences, ranging from feeling jumpy to full panic attacks, according to a survey conducted by Combat Stress and Help for Heroes.
Flashes, smoke, and loud explosions can mimic combat situations and can cause panic or flashbacks.
The city asks residents to be a courteous neighbor by communicating firework discharge plans and staying within the city’s ordinance hours.
Broken Arrow resident Mike Sturgill served 10 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve and earned a Purple Heart. He now serves on the Broken Arrow Veterans Center Board and knows firsthand how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can have a lasting impact on veterans after they return home.
“With me, I had issues with a couple of IED explosions, so sudden loud noises tend to make me a little uneasy,” Sturgill said. “For some veterans, the unexpected noise, or the flashes that can mimic the battlefield very, very closely, can cause light nervousness, hypervigilance, all the way up to and including somebody having a flashback where they feel like they’re back in that place at that time.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs National Center for PTSD, approximately seven percent of veterans will experience PTSD in their lifetime.
“Rates are significantly higher for those who serve in specific conflicts, ranging from 10 percent to 30 percent for veterans of Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Sturgill said. “That means roughly 10 million veterans from these areas are alive today, and as many as 1 to 3 million may struggle with PTSD at some point.”
How each person reacts depends on what the veteran has experienced, what trauma they’ve endured, and how closely that trauma mirrors what they’ve experienced.
Though it can be challenging at times, Sturgill says he still enjoys celebrating the Fourth of July with his friends and family, and he’s loved fireworks since childhood.
“It’s basically the start of our wonderful country, it’s when we broke away from England, and we won independence,” Sturgill said. “So, I’ve always been a patriotic person, and I love my country. That’s why I went into the military.”
Fireworks affect some veterans, but not all. Sturgill says that being mindful and courteous goes a long way.
“I definitely don’t want to take away from anybody’s celebrations, but one thing that can help is just a little common courtesy,” he said. “If you keep within the times the city has set aside, that makes it more manageable. The veteran can plan ahead and know, from this time to that time, what to expect—the explosions, bright colors, stuff like that. They’re not going to be taken by surprise by anything. Nothing is going to be jarring or things like that.”
He recommends that if you have a neighbor you know is a combat veteran, reach out to them and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to be next door doing fireworks.’ Basically, just be polite and follow the rules, and it will make a huge difference.
As this year’s holiday approaches, Sturgill will prepare himself mentally and plan for the noise.
“The issue I’ve always had is unexpected explosions,” Sturgill said. “Stuff like that has bothered me because of some of the experiences I had overseas, so I just prep myself. You know this is coming.”
It also helps him to go to a planned event. “That way, I know when it is starting, when it is stopping. Then, at the house, I’ll watch TV, put the volume up, and try to tone some of that stuff down.”
Over the years, Sturgill has learned a variety of coping strategies.
“I do my grounding techniques, which is good for veterans to do to prepare for it,” Sturgill said. “The VA [Veteran’s Administration] also has a smartphone app called PTSD Coach. There’s always good information there, good training techniques, breathing techniques, things like that. And then, professional help, the VA offers doctors who actually help with coping mechanisms for some of those triggers.”
Secure Your Pets
The city also asks residents to consider making special provisions for their pets to ensure their safety during fireworks. Many animals are reported lost when fireworks are in the area.
“Fireworks can set off a fight or flight response in the animals, causing them to flee and get lost,” said Broken Arrow Animal Control Officer Brian Scott. Scott says the best thing to do is to make sure the animals are secure in a safe, noise-free area. Plan ahead if you know your pet becomes anxious with the loud noises by talking with your vet about anti-anxiety medications and microchipping.
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