ROCK SPRINGS — From the annual Liberty Parade to barbecues and family gatherings, Independence Day wouldn’t be complete without fireworks. This American tradition can bring happiness but can also bring devastation.

Homeowner Kent Maxey, who lives north of Rock Springs, told the Rocket Miner he believes a neighbor’s fireworks display wiped out his barn and scorched the sides of his house after 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

No one has come forward to claim responsibility.

Throughout the day, Maxey had worried about the 10-15 m.p.h. winds blowing fireworks in the direction of his property.

He said the fire destroyed all the valuables inside the barn including expensive saddles, tack and hunting gear.

“There were items in there that cannot ever be replaced. My mother’s saddle was in there,” he said, noting he also lost all the hay for livestock.

Trees were also torched.

“They had to be cut down,” Maxey said. “These people playing with fireworks in the wind don’t have to clean up the mess. I do. These people don’t have to deal with the insurance company. I do.”

As of press time, the total for damages is not known.

“In five minutes, that fire was raging,” he said. “I couldn’t even make a dent in it. I couldn’t even open the fence because of the sheer heat.”

Maxey praised his neighbors for risking their lives to assist him. Since the fence, which Maxey had built out of oilfield pipe, was too hot, a neighbor had to cut through the fence with a grinder to get the horses out.

Fortunately, Maxey’s horses and mules were saved.

“If it wasn’t for my neighbors, my horses would be dead,” he said. “They’re like kids. I’ve had them all my life. One more minute and they would have been gone. I’m thankful for my neighbors. I couldn’t have done it myself.”

According to Maxey, about 60 people took part in the rescue.

“People I’ve never met helped me,” he said. “Even younger people helped. A few of them had to be treated for smoke inhalation.”

Some neighbors have already dropped off stacks of hay for his livestock.

Most people do not have the experience necessary to reduce all the elements that can go wrong with fireworks, he said.

“If a firework had landed on my roof, I would’ve been done,” he pointed out. “My neighbor’s shop was just 20 feet away from the barn. That could have gaone up in flames, too.”

The neighborhood had a power outage for a few hours due to the fire.

“My neighbor’s husband is on oxygen,” Maxey said. “What would have happened if we were out of power for a whole day?”

Maxey has been a resident north of Rock Springs for more than 35 years. He said he never thought his worst fears would become a reality.

He had always suffered from insomnia when the Fourth of July got closer because he was afraid “someone was going to light up” his barn or his home.

“Fourth of July is a nightmare for folks out here,” he said.

Maxey spoke with Scott Kitchner, fire chief for Sweetwater County Fire District No.1.

“I told him, ‘Something needs to change. Fireworks are too risky out here.’ The fire chief told me if there would have been another big fire like mine, they would have been overwhelmed.”

He hopes next year people will have “common sense” when using fireworks.

A daughter’s perspective

Maxey’s daughter, Alisha Beekman, is currently a Montana resident. She grew up north of Rock Springs and hopes this tragic event “sparks change.”

“I don’t ever want to see people I love suffer from others’ negligence,” Beekman said. “This has been an ongoing thing since I was little.”

According to Beekman, her father advocates lawn care in the neighborhood. He and some of his neighbors keep their grass mowed, they get rid of weeds and water their yards as much as possible.

On the social media page ‘Sweetwater County Rants and Raves’ on Facebook, a Boulder resident wrote a petition for a ban on fireworks used within three miles of residential structures or private property. The punishment would be a $5,000 fine and 30 days in jail with full work restitution duty if this isn’t followed. He asked those who are interested in signing the petition to send him a message with their contact information.

The Rocket Miner has reached out to the resident but has not received a comment.

In the post’s comments, more than 30 people voiced they would sign the petition. Some have expressed interest in attending the next Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 16.

While Beekman said she believes it’s everyone’s right to celebrate, she said the ban is a good idea, mentioning it may need some adjustments.

“Fireworks need to be set off in a safe environment. North Rock Springs is the worst place to light fireworks because there is a lot of livestock out there,” she said, noting that more people are living north of Rock Springs now than in the 90s. “I hope regulations will be put in place. Don’t do it near dry grass. Don’t do it near structures and livestock.”

She added, “I realize some people want to set them off near their homes, but we have public access to open roads. Go out there.”

Beekman said she felt joy when she and her mother used fireworks to celebrate Independence Day, but they have always done it away from structures.

“No one is trying to take anyone’s rights,” she pointed out. “We just want everyone to be responsible. My father shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

In the 20 years Beekman lived in her father’s house, she said her family never left Rock Springs during the Fourth of July.

“My father was always afraid his barn was going to burn down,” she said. “A lot of people out there have the same fear. They won’t leave town for the Fourth of July. They want to be home.”

Beekman said fireworks scare the livestock too.

“You can bring your cat or dog inside, but you can’t do that with horses, ducks and geese. Their structures aren’t soundproof either.”