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Police, fire hope for a safe and sane holiday
Departments issue pleas, boost staffs Dry spring raises threat of fireworks-caused blazes
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Fireworks hot lines
The Oxnard and Simi Valley police departments have set up hot lines residents can call to report fireworks problems and illegal fireworks displays. For Oxnard's hot line call 385-7740. For Simi Valley's hot line call 583-6151.
Photos by Juan Carlo / Star staff Patricia Tellez of Phoenix purchases fireworks from the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce booth. Monday was the first day for sales of fireworks in Fillmore, the only Ventura County city that allows the sale and use of "safe and sane" fireworks.
Photos by Juan Carlo / Star staff The Tellez family of Phoenix, from left, A.J.; his father, David; his mother, Patricia; his brother, Devin; his sister, Kayle; and his aunt, Jen, buy fireworks at the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce booth. Monday was the first day vendors sold fireworks to customers from California and other states.
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As wildfires rage across Northern California and hot, dry conditions raise the specter of blazes here at home, local authorities are cracking down on illegal fireworks in advance of Friday's Fourth of July holiday.
Fireworks are prohibited everywhere in Ventura County except Fillmore, where a limited variety of "safe and sane" fireworks are legal to discharge for about a week near July 4.
Police and fire departments this week are increasing staffing to enforce fireworks prohibitions and encourage revelers to choose professional fireworks shows over personal pyrotechnics.
On July 4, about 125 extra police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters will be on duty enforcing fireworks laws throughout the county, according to a report released Monday by the Ventura Council of Governments. Roughly 140 more firefighters, law enforcement personnel and civilian volunteers will staff the Independence Day celebrations where sanctioned fireworks shows are scheduled.
Authorities plan to confiscate illegal fireworks, and users can face fines up to $1,000. People caught with illegal fireworks that are not "safe and sane" can be charged with misdemeanors, said Senior Deputy Larry Bull of the Sheriff's Bomb Squad.
With more than 1,000 wildfires burning in Northern California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week advised Californians not to buy even legal fireworks.
Though heavy rains this winter broke Ventura County's record dry spell of 2006-07, it was followed by a dry spring that left new grasses dry and flammable. Temperatures as high as 100 are expected in county valleys and mountains through the end of this week, said Jaime Meier, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
"We're in worse shape than we were last year," said Bill Nash, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.
While not fireworks related, a blaze that burned 26 acres and injured three firefighters near Ventura's Grant Park last month shows how susceptible local brush is to fire, said Assistant Ventura City Fire Chief Kevin Rennie.
"It takes very little to get a fire going," Rennie said. "People need to use common sense and see the professional (fireworks) shoots."
Fireworks caused fires that destroyed one Simi Valley home and damaged another in 2006. They were the suspected cause of several small fires during last year's Independence Day, but no major blazes or serious injuries were reported.
Authorities think last year's crackdown helped along with a healthy dose of luck.
Local law enforcement agencies responded last year to about 1,500 complaints about illegal fireworks from July 1 to 7, according to the Ventura Council of Governments' report. During the same period, authorities confiscated and destroyed about 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and issued 115 citations with penalties up to $1,000, according to the report.
Oxnard police issued 54 fines, far more than any other county agency. Those citations added up to $28,400 in penalties, according to the report. Twenty-two were $1,000 fines for possessing dangerous fireworks, and 32 were $200 fines for "safe and sane" fireworks.
Police also arrested 30 people for fireworks-related infractions during the holiday week. Oxnard police arrested 21, Simi Valley police arrested six, and sheriff's deputies in Moorpark arrested three.
This year, police and firefighters will continue many of the strategies used in last year's crackdown. Oxnard and Simi Valley police have tip lines for residents to report fireworks violators.
Agencies throughout the county are putting extra officers on the streets, specifically to respond to fireworks-related calls. Deputies on bicycles and horses will be among those looking for fireworks scofflaws in cities including Moorpark and Fillmore.
Firefighters from the Ventura County and Ventura City fire departments will patrol fire-prone areas. Those units will also respond to emergency calls.
In lean budget times, these resources could be better employed elsewhere if county residents would respect fireworks laws, said Santa Paula City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, who is also interim executive director of the governments council.
"Illegal fireworks cost everyone," Bobkiewicz said. "Even if someone's not cited, everyone in the community has to pay the costs."
Posted by JohnGC on July 1, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Police & Fire HOPE? for safe season? Fillmore sells fireworks to support a variety of things? I guess this is an oxymoron, in addition to being inane.
Posted by Adam_Monroe on July 1, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Fillmore!
Posted by Face on July 1, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there a place I can go to light off unsafe and insane fireworks? Seriously though, can I be cited for transporting said safe and sane fireworks out of Filmore, or just if I am caught using them?
Posted by IslandHopper on July 1, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alright!!! Let's see how many rednecks can blow their fingers off or worse--set a fire! Woohoo.
Hey, I got an idea--hows about hallin your arses down to the college in Ventura and "WATCHING" the professionals set off a great fireworks display!
Posted by mazterdje on July 1, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Adam -- Fillmore is not to blame for anyone's misery. There are over 100 cities in California that sell state fire Marshall approved (safe and sane) fireworks including Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and several cities in LA county. One of the fireworks stands in Fillmore is run by the Fillmore Search and Rescue squad that aides support all over the county and state. They are raising money in case you or your family ever need their help. Another stand is run by the Fillmore senior center. They help feed and offer other services to area senior citizens. At that age, we need all the help we can get.
Face -- You cannot be cited for transporting safe and sane fireworks out of Fillmore. You can be cited or arrested for possessing illegal fireworks anytime, anyplace. Just be sure to light your safe and sane fireworks in a city where they are legal on the 4th. Fillmore is the only city in Ventura County where safe and sane is allowed.
Posted by mazterdje on July 1, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Adam -- Fillmore is not to blame for anyone's misery. There are over 100 cities in California that sell state fire Marshall approved (safe and sane) fireworks including Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and several cities in LA county. One of the fireworks stands in Fillmore is run by the Fillmore Search and Rescue squad that aides support all over the county and state. They are raising money in case you or your family ever need their help. Another stand is run by the Fillmore senior center. They help feed and offer other services to area senior citizens. At that age, we need all the help we can get.
Face -- You cannot be cited for transporting safe and sane fireworks out of Fillmore. You can be cited or arrested for possessing illegal fireworks anytime, anyplace. Just be sure to light your safe and sane fireworks in a city where they are legal on the 4th. Fillmore is the only city in Ventura County where safe and sane is allowed.
Posted by mazterdje on July 1, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Adam -- Fillmore is not to blame for anyone's misery. There are over 100 cities in California that sell state fire Marshall approved (safe and sane) fireworks including Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and several cities in LA county. One of the fireworks stands in Fillmore is run by the Fillmore Search and Rescue squad that aides support all over the county and state. They are raising money in case you or your family ever need their help. Another stand is run by the Fillmore senior center. They help feed and offer other services to area senior citizens. At that age, we need all the help we can get.
Face -- You cannot be cited for transporting safe and sane fireworks out of Fillmore. You can be cited or arrested for possessing illegal fireworks anytime, anyplace. Just be sure to light your safe and sane fireworks in a city where they are legal on the 4th. Fillmore is the only city in Ventura County where safe and sane is allowed.
Posted by Adam_Monroe on July 1, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow I heard you the first time...
Posted by SUEBABY on July 1, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just outlaw stoooooopid people... 365 days a year.
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