SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Law enforcement officials around the county are gearing up in an effort to keep illegal fireworks off the street this summer, as Fourth of July approaches and residents who have been cooped up for months look to blow off steam.
Enforcement has become more of a challenge this year, said Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido, after the pandemic forced the cancellation of this year’s Fire in the Sky fireworks show at Watsonville Municipal Airport.
While police normally begin looking for scofflaws during the week of the Fourth of July, Watsonville Police began enforcement two weeks early, after several residents called to report illegal fireworks going off in their neighborhoods.
“We want everyone to enjoy their holiday but please do it safely,” said WPD Sgt. Jerrod Pisturino, who is heading up the department’s fireworks enforcement effort. “The main thing is community safety.”
Anyone caught with illegal fireworks—those that explode or leave the ground—faces a fine of up to $1,000.
The same fine also applies in the unincorporated parts of the county, where Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies will be on the prowl.
The City of Santa Cruz has established “triple fine zones” in the city, bringing the base fine for each fireworks violation into the hundreds of dollars. That is not including court costs that can add up to more than $1,000.
“We have an unfortunate history of fires being started every year on the Fourth of July because of illegal fireworks,” said Santa Cruz Fire Chief Jason Hajduk. “These fires range from cars to houses to entire hillsides and are entirely preventable.”
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there were about 10,000 fireworks-related injuries last year, with 73 percent occurring during the weeks before and after the Fourth of July. There were 12 deaths, most of which occurred when someone lit a firework while holding it.
But all hope is not lost for those who want to put a little spark into Independence Day. Sales begin Wednesday for the “safe-and-sane” variety of fireworks at booths around the City of Watsonville.
However, these are only permitted in the cities of Watsonville and Capitola. Use is prohibited on open and natural land, sloughs, watershed and wetlands areas. It is also banned on unoccupied properties.
Anyone caught lighting them elsewhere faces fines for each item, whether or not they are deemed safe-and-sane.
In normal years, the rules do not stop large groups of people who descend on the county’s beaches to light off all manner of fireworks, lighting up the skies like a war zone and leaving behind hundreds of pounds of garbage and spent fireworks.
It is not yet clear how the Covid-19 shelter-in-place restrictions and social distancing guidelines will affect those crowds.
But those restrictions have ended a large part of this year’s cleanup efforts, which is organized annually on July 5 at beaches and parks across the county by Save Our Shores.
Last year, 103 volunteers at eight sites collected nearly 500 pounds of debris, said Save Our Shores Program Manager Emily Pomeroy.
However, there are a handful of “Safe Social Distancing Cleanups,” in which volunteers are encouraged to do a cleanup with family members and others with whom they share a residence.
“It’s better than nothing, and it’s important for us to prioritize the safety of our staff and volunteers,” she said.
Anyone in the City of Watsonville who wants to report illegal fireworks can call the non-emergency number at 471-1151. Those in the unincorporated parts of the county can call 471-1121.
Callers should try to provide an exact location for where the fireworks are being used. Taking cell phone video could also help.
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Rules for safe-and-sane fireworks:
• Users must be at least 18.
• Fireworks must be lit at least 50 feet from fireworks stands
• Use is only permitted between July 1 and midnight July 5
• Glass containers, wood pallets, unleashed pets and vehicles are all prohibited on public beaches.
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Police released the following safety tips for those who plan on using safe-and-sane fireworks:
• Have an adult supervise all fireworks activities.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby.
• Never experiment, alter the fireworks, or attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Light fireworks one at a time.
• Never throw fireworks at another person.
• Users should always wear eye protection.
• Always shoot fireworks vertically, never horizontally.
• Soak all fireworks in water overnight to avoid fires in trash cans and dumpsters.
• Never use near dry grass or other flammable materials.
• Never attempt to re-light or “fix” fireworks.
