BOISE, Idaho — Scattered all across the Gem State are tiny little towns and cities that like to put their own mark on celebrating America's independence. Probably none more famous – or infamous – than Crouch.
For years, the idea was to keep the crazy confined, rather than randomly scattered throughout Boise County, the majority of which is covered by the Boise National Forest, where there are just about four people per square mile.
Crouch is cracking down on the free-for-all that usually marks its Fourth of July celebration: no illegal fireworks are allowed this year.
It's in response to what has become its reputation, but mostly, because of the risk.
On a good day, the City of Crouch is home to about 350 people. But for one day of the year, the population explodes to about 5,000. Or, at least it did in years past.
Fireworks were being lit all over, even right next to the gas station. People said it was a lot of fun, unless you got hit, and some did.
In fact, when the video from 2016 went viral, it was the mountain town's reputation that was left with a black eye.
"If the New York Post is picking it up, then we're getting people from all over," said Kraig Wees, president of the Garden Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Which is why the following spring, the Garden Valley Chamber of Commerce opted to outlaw fireworks in the city streets.
Crouch usually tries to mitigate risk by getting people into one location, where there's less chance of fire. For the last few years, that location has been the rodeo grounds.
A couple of weeks ago, the chamber and city council, after being educated about laws and liability by the local fire chief, elected to enforce the state's illegal fireworks ban completely.
Jen Schmidtt bought the Crouch Mercantile a couple of months ago, the building with the gas pumps out front.
"I'm very surprised this place is still standing, shooting fireworks at each other right in front of the gas pumps," Schmidtt said.
She is worried the Fourth of July enforcement might just mean more random firing of Roman candles.
"Yeah, I think that people that planned to do it, I think they probably will figure out a way to do it," Schmidtt said. "I want it to be fun and for people to celebrate and have a great time, experience for the whole community to come together. It's obviously a great source of revenue for our tiny town, but it can easily be overwhelming. We have a small fire department, we don't have a sheriff up here normally. So, to bring that kind of population in, where you need lots of help, might be difficult to control."
It's a concern that is shared by many others who call Crouch home, year round.
It's not like there won't be a celebration in Crouch for Independence Day. It will be an all-day event, starting with a flag raising and a flyover in the morning. The family favorite Soap Box Derby will be back, with a duck race on the river and a parade.
As for exploding colors, the chamber was able to raise enough money to have a professional fireworks show at Weilmunster Park, which will begin at dusk.
So, there will be fireworks, they just don't want you to bring your own.
By the way, we did speak with the fire chief in Garden Valley, who told us he has spent the last year educating the locals about the dangers of allowing illegal fireworks – regardless of centralized location or not.
The chief was reluctant to go on camera with us, because as he said, this is still a contentious issue. Which begs the question – what's contentious about safety? And following the rule of the law?
I know we just finished highlighting how all the "law and order" rule-followers seem to forget all that in the name of independence. Maybe not setting the forest or foothills on fire, or drawing blood with a bottle rocket, is a good thing to get behind.
For some, freedom might mean you're free to be dumb. But it doesn't have to be.
If an appeal to common sense isn't enough, the Garden Valley Chamber of Commerce told us that law enforcement will be in town.
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