Recently, city officials put out a public warning regarding the use of fireworks in the Santa Clarita Valley on or around July 4th. SCV firefighters demonstrated that sparklers could light clothes on fire and blow up watermelons simply by touching them. All fireworks are illegal in the city, including the “safe and sane” varieties. Not only is the area typically dry, but the multi-year drought has made things much worse. It only takes one spark to potentially ignite a wildfire that could burn hundreds, if not thousands of acres, including many homes.
The fine for being caught with illegal fireworks in city limits is $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each additional offense. In some cases in the past, deputies have been called to the same area multiple times and have issued multiple citations to the same individual.
If you want to use dangerous fireworks, you need to obtain a special license allowing you to obtain and display fireworks. California Law allows for non-licensed individuals to buy “safe and sane” fireworks only between June 28th and July 6th. This does not apply to places where ordinances or other laws prohibit the use of any type of fireworks, such as those in place in Santa Clarita.
Additionally, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and unincorporated Los Angeles County prohibit the use of any type of fireworks. For those who would like to use “safe and sane” fireworks, the places they can be used include Alhambra, Compton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Monterey Park, and Palmdale.
“Safe and sane” fireworks include small fireworks such as fountains, spinners, and snap caps. In other words: the boring kind. It’s illegal to give dangerous fireworks (those not marked “safe and sane”) to anyone under 18, and illegal to give “safe and sane” fireworks to anyone under 16.
If you notice anyone using fireworks this July 4th, it’s important to contact authorities. While fireworks are synonymous with July 4th celebrations, nobody needs to lose their home over it.
