10/14/2026
Press Release
October 10, 2026, Fireworks concerns
Due to concerns from residents related to the fireworks show conducted on Saturday October 10, 2026, at 180 South River Road, the Bedford Fire Department conducted a review of the incident.
• In accordance with NH RSA 160-B the NH Department of Safety APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR THE DISPLAY OF DISPLAY FIREWORKS was reviewed and approved by the Bedford Fire and Police departments before receiving approval from the NH State Fire Marshals Office in accordance with NH State Law, Administrative Rules, as well as local regulations.
• A review of the permit and concerns raised was conducted on Monday October 12 by The Bedford Fire Department Fire Prevention Division and NH State Fire Marshals office that found:
o The display was conducted in accordance with the approved permit.
o The company hired by the MCC is the same company used for the past three years.
o The fireworks permitted were of the same class and sizes as in the past year(s).
o The fireworks were launched from the same approved area as in past years, meeting all required setbacks and safety distances.
• The fire department provided a fireworks detail as required by the permitting process. Additionally, an off-duty fire marshal from a neighboring community was present for the display. Both noted that the display went off without incident and in accordance with the approved permit.
• At the fire departments request, the fireworks company provided a detailed list of the products used and shared that while the size and number of shells was the same, there were more “salute” type fireworks than in past years. Salute: Fireworks designed to produce an explosive sound as its primary effect. All items used were listed in the approved permit, Section 9: The amount and description of the fireworks to be discharged, the number and diameter of the shells, and whether manually or electrically fired.
• Consultation with a local meteorologist revealed a temperature inversion occurred from approximately 6:50 pm to 11:00 pm on Saturday. This inversion had a ceiling of approximately 900-
1000 feet. According to the National Weather Service, a temperature inversion is a layer in the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with height. An inversion is present in the lower part of a cap. The cap is a layer of relatively warm air aloft (above the inversion). Air parcels rising into this layer become cooler than the surrounding environment, which inhibits their ability to ascend.
As a result of this, the effects of the fireworks display were pushed back towards the ground and did not rise as typically would happen, resulting in more light visibility, as well as increased sound and vibration from the burst of each shell. Here is a link to help understand thermal inversion
https://www.weather.gov/media/lzk/inversion101.pdf.
o As a side note on this phenomenon, the Towns Transfer Station conducted a burn of the brush pile on Saturday afternoon/evening which generated several calls and social media posts for smoke in several parts of Town as well as neighboring communities as a result of the smoke not rising as it typically would, due to the inversion.
Summary:
While all requirements were met by the fireworks company and no violations of the permit were identified, the combination of the temperature inversion at the time of the display and increased number of salute type shells most likely contributed to the increased sound and vibration levels.
Regarding the concern of community notification. While there is no requirement on the display host, fireworks company, or Town to provide prior notice of a fireworks display, the fire department did put a courtesy post on its page and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, the fire department will also utilize the Town’s Nixle notification system as well in hopes of reaching more residents.
If you are not subscribed to the Nixle program, please visit Notify Me • Bedford, NH • CivicEngage and click the Sign up for Notifications button.
