CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Some residents in the Fifeville neighborhood of the city say they’ve been frustrated by neighbors setting off illegal fireworks for years.
With this year’s Fourth of July shooting in the area adding to their concerns, a group has begun an online petition asking the city to enforce the laws regarding fireworks.
“There have been fireworks going on in the neighborhood for many years and it just has gotten so out of control,” Louis Desobry told Cville Right now. “You can’t drive down the street even because people are in the middle of the street lighting fireworks. We really just want it to stop. Have a nice, safe, quiet Fourth of July.”
Desobry delivered a paper petition to the City Council at its Aug. 4 meeting, one he said had 118 signatures from residents of the neighborhood.
That came a month after five people were injured in a Fourth of July shooting on Orangedale Ave. Police chief Michael Kochis has said emergency response to help the victims, who included two children, was slowed because of the crowds in the street setting off and watching the fireworks.
Now, Desobry has posted the petition to the website change.org in hopes of gaining support citywide.
“I don’t think it’s just a Fifeville issue,” Desobry said, noting that Virginia law bans most fireworks. “People are driving to other states where they can buy the big fireworks and then they’re shooting them off in dense neighborhoods where they’re bound to land on somebody’s property.”
The petition asks the city to enforce the existing laws, including a city ordinance that bans fireworks within city limits.
“Despite the clear legal restrictions, enforcement has been inconsistent, leaving residents to contend with excessive noise, fire hazards, and risks to personal safety and property, especially in densely populated or historically underserved areas,” the petition states. “We are deeply concerned that this lack of enforcement not only undermines community trust in public safety institutions but also places an unfair burden on residents who must navigate the consequences of these illegal and dangerous activities on their own.”
The petition goes on to request enforcement of the code with ticketing of violators and confiscation of fireworks, additional police presence on the Fourth of July, increased communication in advance of the holiday to remind residents of the law, and an annual report after the holiday to evaluate how the enforcement went.
“The Charlottesville Police Department works closely with the Charlottesville Fire Marshal’s Office on a case-by-case basis to enforce fireworks laws within the City. The ordinance is clear: all fireworks are illegal within the City of Charlottesville, regardless of their legality in surrounding counties,” said CPD spokesperson Kyle Ervin in a statement. “We urge all residents and visitors to prioritize safety and compliance with the law. Fireworks pose serious risks to people, pets, and property, and illegal use will not be tolerated.”
Ervin’s statement noted that discharging fireworks in the city limits is a Class 1 misdemeanor and that people or groups who want to put on a fireworks display need to apply for a permit.
At the Aug. 4 City Council meeting, Desobry was one of three people to address the council regarding the issue.
Edisa Fific said she has lived on Orangedale Ave. for 19 years.
“I have a concern about my neighbors and my neighborhood,” she said, referencing the fireworks. “We have damaged housing, damaged cars.”
Desobry told Cville Right Now that Fific’s roof was damaged by fireworks one year.
“It’s gotta stop,” John Green told the council, mentioning both the fireworks and the recent shooting. “That stuff over there gotta stop.”
As Desobry noted, the issue isn’t exclusive to Fifeville. And it’s not just on the Fourth of July. Monica Jordan told Cville Right Now she was kept awake and had her pets frightened by neighborhood fireworks after 9:30 p.m. on Thursday at her home on Lamb’s Road, five miles north of Fifeville.
There is a nuanced obstacle to simply enforcing the city code. Since taking over as chief in January 2023, Kochis has worked to improve relationships between the police and segments of the population which felt unfairly targeted and mistreated in the past.
Ramping up enforcement of the fireworks ordinances with increased police presence during the holiday celebrations, could undo some of that progress.
Still, Desobry said the first focus should be on protecting and serving the citizens who are following the law.
“I’m sure the people shooting the fireworks are enjoying themselves and I understand that,” Desobry said. “Fireworks are a fun thing to do and I shot fireworks when I was a kid, but I didn’t do it anywhere near my neighbors’ houses, because it’s a fire hazard, and everything else that can so easily go wrong. It’s something you have to do out in a big field where there’s no chance of you know damaging somebody’s property.”
