Long after the official fireworks display had ended last night, the District’s neighborhoods cracked and popped as residents of all types took to the streets with fireworks of their own. The city’s DIY fireworks culture isn’t anything new — we reported on it last year — but its opponents seem to have gotten much more vocal.

Over the last week, residents have taken to neighborhood listservs to decry the July 4th tradition, arguing that the sale and use of fireworks — both illegal and otherwise — has become a nuisance and a threat. The MPD-1D listserv, which addresses crime and safety issues in the First District, was witness to numerous complaints of fireworks shows, both legal and otherwise. The complaints got so intense that both the police and fire departments were forced to respond — prior to the 4th, police reported having arrested various individuals and confiscated hundreds of boxes of illegal fireworks; a tip line was set up to report fireworks-related disturbances and police officers were assigned to the task of shutting down illegal shows throughout the city. And though the worst has ended, this morning various residents echoed another complaint — the fireworks debris littering their neighborhoods.

Photo by Intangible Arts.