The calendar said December, but Lompoc Fire Chief Brian Fallon was focused on the Fourth of July.

In a presentation to the Lompoc City Council, Fallon revealed plans to hire a firm to provide aerial monitoring to help crack down on those launching illegal fireworks in the city. 

The beefed-up efforts follow a Fourth of July that saw two brush fires, a trash bin fire and two outside trash fires.

One blaze involved firefighters from several agencies beyond the southern edge of the city in a difficult-to-access area.

“That was a little bit more involved than a typical brush fire, and this was an increase from last year,” Fallon said.

Firefighters contained the Willow Fire in the 500 block of O Street to less than an acre.

A video of firefighters battling the blaze also captured illegal fireworks being propelled into the sky elsewhere in the Lompoc Valley. 

From June 1 to July 25, public dispatchers received 733 calls regarding fireworks, up from 324 in 2023, Chief Kevin Martin told the council last summer. 

Calls for service on July 4 numbered 257, up from 141 a year earlier, Martin said. Of that number, 136 involved fireworks matters, compared with 51 in 2023.

Fallon said the goal centered on deterring illegal fireworks, defined as those propelled into the sky or discharge balls of fire.

Lompoc is one of three cities in Santa Barbara County that allow nonprofit organizations to sell safe and sane fireworks. 

The barrage of illegal fireworks in Lompoc and Santa Maria has been likened to a war zone. 

Fallon said the city would hire Overwatch Aero based in Solvang to help identify those responsible for the flurry of illegal fireworks. 

“What the aircraft does is it does pinpoint the parcel as well as the illegal activity that’s taking place on that property,” Fallon said. 

The information can be referred to crews on the ground or compiled in a report so that city officials can send citations after July 4.

In addition to the new enforcement tool, public safety officials plan to launch an educational campaign to remind residents about the rules.

Santa Maria has conducted a similar effort and reported a 70% recovery rate on fines, Fallon said.

The effort would cost $10,000, which the department believes can be recouped through the fines, Fallon said. 

Councilman Victor Vega asked whether the city had exhausted attempts to alert people about illegal fireworks use. 

“It sounds like it’s only a recovery effort, and the recovery effort is mainly to scare people out of doing it, I guess,” Vega said. “Is there anything we can do to empower the neighbors so they won’t feel a fear factor if in case it is a nuisance or a safety hazard?”

“I think that our efforts are definitely consistent with what other municipalities are doing currently,” Fallon said. 

He and the police chief have discussed holding town hall meetings to help inform residents about various issues such as the danger of illegal fireworks.

Later in the meeting, new Mayor Jim Mosby asked staff to explore reviving the community’s Fourth of July fireworks show. 

“I know we have the issue that’s happening with the illegals. Sometimes promoting (to) the people, a scratch for their itch, maybe we can get them refocused and get them entertained on a legal, safe event than doing what they’re doing,” Mosby said.

“It’s Fourth of July, absolutely,” Councilman Dirk Starbuck said in offering his support.

While Mosby seemed to suggest that a lack of a vendor led to the cancellation, the city’s fireworks show lost its venue following a significant refurbishment effort for Lompoc High School’s Huyck Stadium.

One show later occurred at Ryon Memorial Park, but the vendor expressed safety concerns, staff reported in 2022.