Pollution, fire risk... Should the traditional July 14th fireworks display be cancelled?

In several departments, the July 14th fireworks displays have already been canceled. The reasons are drought and the risk of fires . This is the case in Indre, for example: the prefecture has warned that it is not banning the displays, but that it will act on a case-by-case basis depending on how the situation develops. However, some municipalities do not want to take any risks and have already announced that their fireworks displays are canceled.

In Vienne this time, the prefecture refused to take a case-by-case approach: all fireworks displays and high-risk activities have been banned since Monday and until July 15th inclusive. Fireworks are too risky and polluting. This is another argument put forward by their detractors.

In 2012, Airparif analyzed the concentration of fine particles in the air following the show in the capital and observed an increase of more than 3,000% in the firing zone. Nationally, the concentration of fine particles remains 42% higher during the 24 hours following a fireworks display. Not to mention water pollution (phosphorus, dioxin) when these shows are held near a river or lake.

So, should the July 14th fireworks display be canceled? That's the debate this Wednesday on RMC's Estelle Midi.

For Marlène Schiappa , it is possible to find an alternative to celebrate “our national pride”: “we can do it without fireworks, there are other ways to celebrate, like with drone shows.” “I’m all for drone shows, it’s a great alternative, there are some magnificent shows. But we’re keeping the popular celebration with the firefighters’ ball,” adds host Jean-Philippe Doux.

Columnist Fred Hermel disagrees. "We don't talk about the particles coming from German coal-fired power plants, and now we're being calculated based on 15 minutes of fireworks..." Olivier, a fireworks expert and Estelle Midi listener, agrees. "The biggest pollution, when we talk about fireworks, is still the movement of people. So, it will be the same pollution with drones," he says.

He concludes: “Then it's also a source of pollution with the batteries. During drone shows, you should know that between 1 and 4% disappear and fall to the ground. So, it remains dangerous and polluting.” Nevertheless, fireworks still pose a risk of starting a fire, despite the regulations.