>> GULF COAST NEWS AT 4 ON NBC. >> CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S ARE ALL ABOUT SPREADING JOY AND RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR. THIS INCLUDES CELEBRATING WITH FIREWORKS, BUT FIREWORKS ARE KNOWN TO STARTLE PETS WHEN THEY GO OFF. THANKS FOR COUNTING ON GULF COAST NEWS. I’M MADISON ADAMS. MERRY CHRISTMAS GOLD COAST NEWS REPORTER JALEN BARRON IS LIVE IN STUDIO WITH MORE ON HOW ONE PET OWNER HAD TO CALL LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES TO GET INVOLVED. JALEN. >> ADDISON FIREWORKS MAY BE PRETTY IN THE SKY, BUT FRIGHTENING FOR SOME PET OWNERS ACROSS LEE COUNTY. I SPOKE WITH ONE NEIGHBOR WHO TELLS ME HER DOG FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY. THIS HOLIDAY. >> 4TH OF JULY. OKAY. EVERY SINGLE YEAR IT STARTS A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND IT CARRIES ON ALICE POWELL HAS LIVED IN LEE COUNTY SINCE 2018 EACH YEAR. ALL SHE ASKS FOR IS SOME PEACE AND QUIET. BUT FOR HER AND HER 10 YEAR-OLD DOG BULLET QUIET ISN’T USUALLY AN OPTION. I CAN’T STAND IT. I CAN’T STAND. YOU KNOW, AND JUST ON THIS IS HOW THEY CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY NOT HOW I CELEBRATE MY CHRISTMAS. LIKE CHRISTMAS GETS THROWN EVERY YEAR. POWELL SAYS HER DON’T PULL. IT IS SCARED OF EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES. THE ADOPTED WHILE RAN AWAY DURING HURRICANE IAN, FRIGHTENED BY THE LOUD THUNDER. HOW TELLS ME SHE ALMOST LOST HIM IN THE STORM AND SHE’S SCARED. THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS TIME. NOT FROM THUNDER, BUT FIREWORKS AND FIRECRACKERS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. I MEAN, YOU WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT THIS MORNING. >> AND WALKING HIS SEAL 3 IN EVERYTHING FROM THE FIRECRACKERS. >> NOW FIREWORKS ARE ONLY LEGAL IN FLORIDA ON NEW YEAR’S EVE NEW YEAR’S DAY AND THE 4TH OF JULY POWELL TELLS ME SHE CALLED A LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 2 SEPARATE TIMES LAST NIGHT, BUT NO ONE SHOWED UP T
Lee County residents disturbed by Christmas Eve fireworks
Fireworks on Christmas Eve in Lee County startled residents and pets, prompting calls for peace and quiet during the holiday season
Updated: 5:53 PM EST Dec 25, 2025
Editorial Standards
Fireworks on Christmas Eve in Lee County startled residents and their pets, leading to calls for a quieter holiday. Janet, a local resident, said, “We heard them on the road, and it did scare my daughter-in-law. She jumped. She wasn’t expecting that. And I thought something hit us or something.”Some children were fearful of going to sleep due to the unexpected fireworks and firecrackers. Alice Powell, a resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “And I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it, you know, and just say, ‘Oh, well, this is how they celebrate their holiday.’ Well, it’s not how I celebrate my Christmas. So my Christmas gets ruined every year.”Residents turned to social media to help locate pets that ran off due to the loud noises, using Lee County’s new website to post about found animals before they are taken to shelters. Fortunately for Powell, her dog Bullet did not run away.Powell described the scene, saying, “I came out here; the whole area was all full of smoke and cars racing up and down the street, the firecrackers, the fireworks going up, you know, all over, landing on houses, everything.” Her dog Bullet, an adopted Chihuahua, is particularly scared of loud noises, having previously run away during Hurricane Ian due to thunder. Powell is scared this could happen again, this time due to fireworks and firecrackers in her neighborhood.”Ongoing thing. Every single — well, Fourth of July, OK. But every single year it starts a few days before Christmas, and it carries on,” Powell said.Powell reported the disturbances to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office twice, but no one responded. Fireworks are only legal in Florida on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. Powell’s wish for Christmas is simply a quiet night.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Fireworks on Christmas Eve in Lee County startled residents and their pets, leading to calls for a quieter holiday.
Janet, a local resident, said, “We heard them on the road, and it did scare my daughter-in-law. She jumped. She wasn’t expecting that. And I thought something hit us or something.”
Some children were fearful of going to sleep due to the unexpected fireworks and firecrackers.
Alice Powell, a resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “And I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it, you know, and just say, ‘Oh, well, this is how they celebrate their holiday.’ Well, it’s not how I celebrate my Christmas. So my Christmas gets ruined every year.”
Residents turned to social media to help locate pets that ran off due to the loud noises, using Lee County’s new website to post about found animals before they are taken to shelters. Fortunately for Powell, her dog Bullet did not run away.
Powell described the scene, saying, “I came out here; the whole area was all full of smoke and cars racing up and down the street, the firecrackers, the fireworks going up, you know, all over, landing on houses, everything.” Her dog Bullet, an adopted Chihuahua, is particularly scared of loud noises, having previously run away during Hurricane Ian due to thunder. Powell is scared this could happen again, this time due to fireworks and firecrackers in her neighborhood.
“Ongoing thing. Every single — well, Fourth of July, OK. But every single year it starts a few days before Christmas, and it carries on,” Powell said.
Powell reported the disturbances to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office twice, but no one responded. Fireworks are only legal in Florida on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. Powell’s wish for Christmas is simply a quiet night.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
