The cost of getting caught using illegal fireworks in Santa Maria could climb as the city continues to battle the barrage of bursts around July 4.
Fire Chief Brad Dandridge provided the results of Santa Maria’s multiagency education and enforcement effort during the City Council meeting Tuesday.
“The use of illegal fireworks within city limits is a problem we’re all trying to solve,” Dandridge said.
California defines illegal versions as any firework that explodes, propels into the air or moves in an erratic way. Types of illegal fireworks include firecrackers, Roman candles, bottle rockets and aerial mortars.
Legal fireworks bear the state fire marshal’s “Safe and Sane” seal on the packaging. Those are sold in Santa Maria for the week before July 4 and can be used on Independence Day.
After being questioned about Oxnard’s $2,000 fine for illegal fireworks, City Attorney Thomas Watson said research revealed a California Attorney General’s Office opinion identifying two statutes being violated, which would allow a higher fine.
An ordinance seeking to boost the current $1,000 fine will return to the City Council in the coming months, Watson added.
“We believe that it’s legally sound,” he added.
In total, the city issued 118 administrative citations to property owners and identified violators, with 93 generated from proactive patrols by police officers and firefighters on the ground, Dandridge said.
Another 25 came from the review of aerial enforcement with satellite-based navigation tools to pinpoint the properties where illegal fireworks were launched.
The city also sent about 50 warning letters.
While the city issues permits for sanctioned block parties, the fireworks task force enforcement team members encountered several large unpermitted block parties with the Safe and Sane seal, or allowed, fireworks plus the illegal versions.
Enforcement efforts rely on a social-host ordinance that allows property owners to be cited later for the offense rather than dealing with large crowds that include intoxicated individuals.
“It doesn’t require us to make contact,” Fire Marshal Jim Austin said of the social-host ordinance.
Dandridge also reported that the Fire Department received 25 medical calls on July 4.
In the weeks before July 4, emergency crews also responded to five injuries directly related to fireworks, with two hand injuries and one person knocked unconscious.
“Significant life-altering injures were sustained this year by our residents,” Dandridge added.
In a 24-hour period for July 4, firefighters responded to 11 blazes in the city with nine related to fireworks. The city did not see any large fires involving residential or commercial structures, Dandridge said.
Firefighters responded to 53 incidents between 8 a..m. July 4 and 8 a.m. July 5, about double the number of calls.
The beefed up enforcement effort with teams made up firefighters and police officers extended from July 2 through July 4.
“Despite these added resources, responding to every complaint was not possible,” Dandridge said. “Having fire prevention staff with police officers was a crucial part of the success, and we look forward to continuing the partnership.”