Fireworks crackdown gets results

The city of Costa Mesa reported a marked decrease in

fireworks-related incidents this Fourth of July holiday, according to

a report released last week.

This is the second time Cosa Mesa Fire and Police departments have

formed a joint task force to patrol against illegal fireworks -- and

it seems to be working, said Costa Mesa Fire Marshal Thomas Macduff.

Between June 28 and July 6, Costa Mesa Fire responded to only two

fires: a dumpster fire on July 4 and a burning fireworks stand on

July 5.

“Usually we have something worse, like maybe ... a couple of roof

fires,” Macduff said.

Fourth of July holidays generally generate many fires. But the

2004 and 2005 holidays produced the fewest and least costly fires he

has seen in his 28-year career with the fire department, Macduff

said.

The special Fourth of July enforcement cost the city more than

$13,000.

The sale of safe fireworks -- which don’t explode or shoot up into

the air -- was allowed within city limits July 1 through July 4. The

legal fireworks could be discharged only between 4 and 10 p.m. on the

Fourth of July.

Despite the ban on illegal fireworks, many people transport them

across state lines.

“All you have to do is go one state away and bring them in,”

Macduff said.

Fireworks of any kind are illegal in neighboring Newport Beach.

To enforce the laws against illegal fireworks, the task force

focused on public education and aggressive patrol, Macduff said.

Police officers and firefighters drove through neighborhoods and

made residents aware of the laws against illegal fireworks. For the

first time on a Fourth of July holiday, patrols included plainclothes

police officers. Arson investigators checked on locations known from

previous holidays to be high-activity areas. The police helicopter

was used to digitally record fireworks use and to direct ground

units.

During the enforcement period, police and fire personnel

confiscated hundreds of pounds of illegal fireworks, Macduff said.

Especially critical was the enforcement of illegal fireworks in

city parks, Macduff said.

* LAUREN VANE covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (714) 966-4618 or at [email protected].