Small towns get burned by fireworks bills

America's 250th birthday is shaping up to be a red, white and blue fireworks bonanza — for towns that can afford it.

Why it matters: As cities compete for bigger, brighter anniversary displays, smaller municipalities are getting priced out — or learning there simply aren't enough crews or equipment to go around.

The big picture: Blown away by the costs of competing with larger cities, some towns have resorted to choosing new dates farther from the holiday or crowdsourcing donations.

• But a few have canceled shows, including Hinesburg, Vermont, where officials budgeted $13,500 for fireworks, but were gobsmacked when they were told they'd need to pay a minimum of $20,000 this year.

What they're saying: "We've had a lot of smaller cities reach out and ask for shows around $10,000 or less," Tyler Wheat, president of Dallas-area display company Illumination Fireworks, tells Axios.

• "We do turn away people every year, however, this year it's been a little bit more than normal," Wheat says. "The amount of cities we have in Texas that do have large and middle-sized budgets, we have to put those as priority, because obviously we're a business, we have to make profit."
• Iolaus Lee, owner of Detroit-based AMS Displays, says smaller communities have struggled to compete because "some people have definitely doubled their budget, shoot, some people even tripled their budgets, just to make sure they can get the biggest, baddest display for the 250th."

By the numbers: Fireworks shows vary widely in cost depending on distance, shell size and display design, but Lee says most run about $1,000 to $1,500 per minute.

Zoom in: Wheat says his company is producing about 50 shows between June 26 and July 5, up from its typical 37 to 42 shows during the same period.

• Lee says his company is putting on around 15 shows on July 4th alone, and has turned down roughly 50 requests for the Independence Day season.

Staffing shortages and limited equipment are adding to the challenge.

• Many companies rely on seasonal pyrotechnicians who work summer gigs for Independence Day, weddings and state fairs before demand fizzles in colder months. That means there aren't enough licensed operators when every town wants its grand finale at once.
• Lee says plenty of people apply for the jobs, but he prioritizes candidates who understand the risks involved.
• "We make it look not dangerous, but that's because we know what we're doing. The good thing is you still find some crazy people like myself that seem to really enjoy blowing things up, and making a little dollar off of it."

Worth noting: Some municipalities have turned to drone shows as an alternative, but Wheat says drones "end up actually costing about the same, if not more than firework shows."

• While some communities choose drones to reduce fire risks, noise complaints and environmental concerns, Wheat says the demand has lessened and most communities have returned to fireworks since community feedback was "largely negative … They feel like the Fourth of July is for fireworks."

The bottom line: Small towns still want the oohs and aahs. They all just can't pay for the boom.

Go deeper: Record D.C. fireworks raise concerns for wildlife and pets