Every year, as July comes into view, one thing starts popping up everywhere.

Fireworks.

Sparklers and firecrackers, smoke bombs and crackling fountains. Big and small, fireworks stands are to Independence Day what tree lots are to Christmas. They serve as both harbingers and centerpieces.

But this year? Things are a little different.

Many big fireworks events have been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. Giant shows can take months to plan and organize, and months ago, no one knew how long or how tight quarantines would be over the summer. Some shows will still happen, though others, like Pittsburgh, Monroeville, Latrobe and Brentwood, have been canceled.

But for retailers like Phantom Fireworks and TNT Fireworks, that has been good for business. Sales are up throughout the region and across the country.

That has also translated into some early celebration — and complaints in many areas. In Pittsburgh, those complaints are up almost 400% over 2019, which has led the city to create a task force to address the issue.

The problem with fireworks in the city is the law says you have to be 150 feet away from a structure to light them off. That means that unless you have one heck of a long driveway or a big backyard, you can’t just do them at home. It also means your neighbors are probably close enough to be bothered.

So what are festive patriots to do? Maybe the city isn’t setting off the big bangs, but people still clearly crave a little snap, crackle and pop.

In Pitcairn, the council has invited residents to bring their consumer-grade fireworks (not the professional stuff, please) to the baseball field to use in a safe distancing space.

That’s a smart move that other municipalities should consider. Rather than having people break the law in an already stressful time on a holiday that dares people to literally play with fire, help them find a way to do a legal activity as safely as possible.

This can be an opportunity for communities to find ways to say yes instead of no. We have had a lot of no for the last three months.

Ask the fire departments for input. Think about making appointments or chalking off parking lots to keep this family distant from that one. There has to be a way to light some fuses, get a few oohs and ahhs and still be safe from both burns and viruses.

There is still a week to go, people. If you want the early complaints to quiet, the best way to do it might be finding a good alternative before people explode.

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