Let Fireworks Fizzle Out! PETA Asks New Jersey to Extend Its Temporary Ban for … Forever

For Immediate Release:
October 31, 2024

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

After learning that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has imposed a statewide ban on fireworks ahead of Diwali festivities due to severe drought conditions—which will only get worse due to the climate catastrophe—PETA sent a letter today to New Jersey State Forest Firewarden William J. Donnelly urging him to go a step further by making the ban permanent—as fireworks at any time can cause fires and are deeply distressing for animals, military veterans, and other individuals sensitive to loud noises and smoke.

The group points out that during fireworks displays, terrified dogs break through fences, wild animals flee onto roadways, and startled birds abandon their nests. Fireworks were also the cause of the Tea Time Hill wildfire, which burned 4,000 acres of South Jersey’s Wharton State Forest in July, destroying the homes and taking the lives of millions of living beings, from raccoons and deer to insects.

“The booms and blasts of fireworks sound like World War III to animals, who panic and are often injured or even killed as they try to escape some horror they don’t understand,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is urging New Jersey to put a permanent kibosh on fireworks and ensure that festivities leave the most vulnerable among us in peace.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Donnelly follows.

October 31, 2024

William J. Donnelly

State Forest Firewarden and Chief of the Forest Fire Service

New Jersey Forest Fire Services

Dear Chief Donnelly:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, including thousands across New Jersey—ahead of this year’s Diwali celebrations with a request that we hope will spark your interest: We deeply appreciate that due to the recent drought, you have implemented a statewide burn restriction and ban on fireworks. We respectfully request that you make the fireworks ban permanent. As an Indian American woman, I know that Diwali is a beautiful, joyous festival that can easily be enjoyed without the hazards associated with fireworks, as can all festivals, including the Fourth of July.

Packed with gunpowder, heavy metals, and other toxins, fireworks release particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitric oxide, which can degrade air quality, disrupt the growth of trees and other plants, alter nutrients in the soil, and increase water acidity. Fireworks also release smoke and chemicals that are harmful to the respiratory systems of all species, including those of humans. Even short-term exposure to smoke from fireworks has been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias in people with heart disease. And as you know, fireworks were the cause of the Tea Time Hill Wildfire, which burned at least 4,000 acres in July.

In addition to being harmful to the environment, fireworks sound like an all-out war to noise-sensitive individuals—including dogs, cats, wildlife, and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder—and their use has devastating consequences. Terrified dogs often climb, break, or dig their way out of wherever they are as they frantically try to escape from the chaos, resulting in increased intake at animal shelters and further straining community resources. This year in New Jersey, many families looked for their animal companions following Fourth of July festivities. The number of missing animals skyrockets by 30% to 60% around this holiday.

By making this change, New Jersey would set a wise, positive example for other states to follow. Massachusetts is already embracing alternative celebrations statewide, and we hope you’ll join this forward-thinking state by embracing fireworks-free festivities such as Diwali that are considerate of humans, other animals—both domestic and wild—and the planet. Thank you for your attention. We look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Sneha Swaroop

Science Policy Advisor