'Safe and sane' fireworks to be sold in Stanton, Buena Park, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Garden Grove
Fireworks booths opened across the county at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and with them, came safety warnings and pledges by law enforcement to crack down on scofflaws.
"Safe and sane" fireworks – the term for those that don't fly or explode and are approved by the state fire marshal – are being sold through July 4 in Stanton, Buena Park, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Garden Grove.
More than 200 nonprofits - ranging from the Buena Park Rotary Club to Santa Ana Pop Warner - are selling the items this week in parking lots and on major street corners.
Although fireworks are sanctioned in these cities, safety officials caution that both illegal and "safe and sane" varieties are prohibited in most Orange County communities – including unincorporated areas.
(To see a list of where safe and sane fireworks can be purchased, click here.)
To help curb potential injuries, officials urge those who plan to light up fireworks this year to exercise caution. Tips include: lighting one at a time, having a bucket of water and a hose close by, and never attempting to light duds again.
In addition, police and fire agency representatives say they'll keep a close eye on revelers to help make Independence Day festivities as safe as possible.
In Santa Ana, 38 police officers and arson investigators will work together to target those using illegal fireworks. They'll make arrests, give citations and take illegal fireworks off of the streets, said Cmdr. Tammy Franks. Last year, officers confiscated 8,825 such fireworks.
In Garden Grove – where those possessing illegal fireworks can be fined up to $1,000 – officers will also patrol and respond to fireworks complaint calls, and one additional firefighter will be added to each of the Fire Department's seven engines.
"Every year there seems to be an increase in illegal firework activity, which increases the potential for injury or damage to property," said Lt. Travis Whitman. "We're trying to mitigate that."
And in Buena Park, 20 additional officers – 30 in all – will report for fireworks duty this week, said Sgt. William Kohanek. They'll be looking for illegal fireworks and anything unsafe or hazardous. In years past, he said, they've seen people place "safe and sane" fireworks in sling shots, or cut them up to extract the ingredients.
In addition, Boisseranc, Peak and Bellis parks will again be closed after noon to deter loitering.
"Because Buena Park is one of the few cities that continues to sell fireworks, we have thousands of visitors from other cities who come in and buy fireworks and find locations to blow them off," Kohanek said.
By THERESA CISNEROS
M-80 fireworks
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