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Controversy explodes over fireworks as Fourth of July nears
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CommentWith hundreds of wildland fires burning in Northern California, fire officials are not welcoming traditional sale of fireworks before the Fourth of July.
“I encourage the public to leave fireworks to the professionals. With current fire conditions in Northern California, our fire resources are depleted,” Napa City Fire Marshal Darren Drake said. “We certainly don’t need another fire. Our firefighting resources are spread so thin right now. We certainly hope the public will be sensible and safe about fireworks this holiday.”
“I encourage the public to leave fireworks to the professionals. With current fire conditions in Northern California, our fire resources are depleted,” Napa City Fire Marshal Darren Drake said. “We certainly don’t need another fire. Our firefighting resources are spread so thin right now. We certainly hope the public will be sensible and safe about fireworks this holiday.”
Unless a person lives within the city limits of St. Helena, all fireworks are prohibited in Napa County.
Safe-and-sane fireworks may be bought only in St. Helena and set off only in St. Helena.
Safe-and-sane fireworks may be bought only in St. Helena and set off only in St. Helena.
“You cannot buy fireworks in St. Helena and shoot them off in the county or any other city in Napa County,” said St. Helena Fire Chief Kevin Twohey.
Customers purchasing fireworks in St. Helena will be given a flyer, written in English and Spanish, showing places where fireworks may be discharged, Twohey said. “We printed 1,000 flyers.”
Customers purchasing fireworks in St. Helena will be given a flyer, written in English and Spanish, showing places where fireworks may be discharged, Twohey said. “We printed 1,000 flyers.”
Twohey is worried about the high fire dangers this year. “Even Safe-and-sane fireworks can start a fire. It only takes a very small patch of dried grass to spark a full-blown wildland fire. The high fire conditions are more critical this year. Fire season started very early this year,” Twohey said. “Even Gov. Schwarzenegger has pleaded with the public not to sell or use fireworks this year.”
Drake said Napa firefighters will team up with Napa police officers to patrol the city on July 4, looking for anyone opting to put on their own fireworks show.
“We will have zero tolerance. If you’re lighting off fireworks in the city, the fireworks will be confiscated and you will be issued a citation,” Drake said. “No ifs, ands or buts.”
With a fines up to $500, anyone issued a citation will quickly have their patriotic spirit doused.
Bigger fireworks are another issue, Drake said. “Anyone caught with dangerous fireworks, such as bottle rockets, Roman candles, MBOs, will be fined and could be arrested and receive jail time. The penalties for possession and setting off dangerous fireworks are much greater than for safe-and-sane.”
Napa County Fire Marshal Gabrielle Avina said Calfire firefighters will be patrolling the areas where there have been fireworks problems in the past.
“We will be writing citations and confiscating all fireworks we find in the county,” Avina said. “We still have hundreds of fires burning in California. We don’t have peak staffing levels at the stations. All of these fires in the state have shown fuel conditions are drier than normal for the Fourth of July. There is more of a potential for fires. We have just been overwhelmed this year with the number of resources needed to fight the wildland fires.”
Fire officials mostly agree they are not against fireworks, but setting them off in the middle of fire season, especially this year, worries them.
Drake encouraged locals to check out one of the many legitimate fireworks shows around the county. “They are much more spectacular, and they are free,” Drake said.
Drake said Napa firefighters will team up with Napa police officers to patrol the city on July 4, looking for anyone opting to put on their own fireworks show.
“We will have zero tolerance. If you’re lighting off fireworks in the city, the fireworks will be confiscated and you will be issued a citation,” Drake said. “No ifs, ands or buts.”
With a fines up to $500, anyone issued a citation will quickly have their patriotic spirit doused.
Bigger fireworks are another issue, Drake said. “Anyone caught with dangerous fireworks, such as bottle rockets, Roman candles, MBOs, will be fined and could be arrested and receive jail time. The penalties for possession and setting off dangerous fireworks are much greater than for safe-and-sane.”
Napa County Fire Marshal Gabrielle Avina said Calfire firefighters will be patrolling the areas where there have been fireworks problems in the past.
“We will be writing citations and confiscating all fireworks we find in the county,” Avina said. “We still have hundreds of fires burning in California. We don’t have peak staffing levels at the stations. All of these fires in the state have shown fuel conditions are drier than normal for the Fourth of July. There is more of a potential for fires. We have just been overwhelmed this year with the number of resources needed to fight the wildland fires.”
Fire officials mostly agree they are not against fireworks, but setting them off in the middle of fire season, especially this year, worries them.
Drake encouraged locals to check out one of the many legitimate fireworks shows around the county. “They are much more spectacular, and they are free,” Drake said.
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LMW wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:47 PM:
There comes a time when change is needed, with last weeks air quality due to California wildfires....this is it, Zero tolerance for fireworks...a ban on fireworks thru out this state would of sent the message, fire fighting resources are short so go to wal-mart and buy their confetti fireworks there just as good!!!! and safe. Help stop fires and don't light up! Think of the children... "
mytwocents wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:23 AM:
Dirty Napkin wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:24 AM:
Paddy wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:57 AM:
The only difference in potential fire hazard between 2008 and 1978 is there are tens of millions more people who have moved into the state of CA and want to ban anything and everything that frightens them.
Unfortunately, banning fireworks may be the best thing because there are so many more idiots in this valley and in this state and the door's open to just let them keep coming. "
traceeg wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:15 AM:
nvchell wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:33 AM:
northnapagirl wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:00 AM:
antipc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:37 AM:
Got matches? "
jimmie wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:43 AM:
steph wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:59 PM:
I remember the good ol' days when the dads in the cul-de-sac would get together and bring out the garden hoses and we'd barbeque. Then, after dark, we'd have a safe show in the street, not hidden in some grassy out-of-the-way area, and we'd have Piccolo Petes and Tazmanian Devils and then all the kids would get sparklers.
No fires, no eyes put out, just a ton of good old-fashioned family fun.
Now everything is banned.
Sheesh.
What's my country coming to?
How hysterical and shrill and uptight can we get?
Sheesh. "
kbf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:02 PM:
Jenn wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:25 PM:
Native74 wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:07 PM:
I remember the greatest 4th's growing up with the family even during the initial fireworks bans. We played it safe - pad locked all the gates on the property. ;)
This is a scary dry year though so all the fire works I have will most likely be saved for a wet or snowy X-mas/New Year's. Most are only safe and sane from neighboring counties. However, I still have a select few of the good ones from the mid-west. My cousins sure have it good. Lightning bugs and real fireworks. *sigh* "
pianocrazee wrote on Jul 3, 2008 3:46 PM:
MarkMiwords wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:01 PM:
royrodgers wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:24 PM:
antipc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:56 PM:
sunny wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:05 PM:
antipc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:56 PM:
Now, back to the good old days. Fireworks can & are handled safely. Watching little girls hold a sparkler & seeing the reflection in their eyes, ear to ear grins, "do it again Daddy", & the ever popular "can I light it?"
Did I mention I like homemade peach ice-cream?
God bless America! "
steph wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:49 PM:
We set them off at the beach. That's illegal, too.
Might start a forest fire there in the sand. Someone might get a sparkle on their arm, or something.
Can't have THAT!
My GOD!
But, ohhhh, yes, antiPC, the ice cream! Once when I was a little girl, I was so enchanted by the rock salt, that I kept a piece of it in my clenched fist for hours. Burned a little hole in the palm of my hand. I'm going to contact my congressperson. We should ban rock salt. "
funnyme wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:28 PM:
We're with you!
mmmmm...peach ice cream for me too please...oh and apple pie of course! "
109823 wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:58 PM:
LMW wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:38 PM:
steph wrote on Jul 10, 2008 7:45 PM:
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!! "