Hawthorne : Fireworks Liability Raised

The City Council has voted to require that the city’s eight fireworks stands obtain at least $5 million in liability insurance in a move that council members acknowledged could drive the stands out of business. Liability policies of up to $10 million that were in effect last year have been canceled, with insurance companies now offering policies providing only $1 million in protection.

In past years, civic organizations, including the YMCA and the Hawthorne American Little League, have operated the fireworks stands, with profits in some cases of $10,000 a year, according to Councilman Chuck Bookhammer.