Fire departments team together to keep Tulare County communities safe

Visalia Times-Delta

It's that time of the year to dust off barbecue grills, invite family and friends to the cookout, and prepare to celebrateJuly 4 – responsibly.

Beginning this week, many communities across California will have access to "Safe and Sane" fireworks in preparation for the holiday. As they do every year, state and local fire agencies encourage residents to have fun but remember that fireworks celebrations could be dangerous and costly .

"Already this year our arson and bomb investigators and law enforcement officers have been busy assisting with numerous illegal fireworks enforcement operations," said Cal Fire Chief Mike Richwine, California state fire marshal.

This year's early vigilance has already seized tens of thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks.

Here in Tulare County, the Visalia, Dinuba, Porterville, and Tulare County fire departments are collaborating to amplify their efforts through the "It's Just Not Worth It" campaign.

"We wanted to get together and make sure everybody understood we were gonna be out patrolling and enforcing proper use of fireworks," said Dinuba Fire Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal Joanne Bear. "It's just not worth playing with illegal fireworks, whether you bought them on Facebook, offer up, let go or any of those websites. It's not worth the potential injury to your child, your family member, [or] your parent."

The campaign also focuses on education, purchasing locations and the handling of pyrotechnics to avoid a catastrophe. Dangerous and illegal fireworks are classified as any explosives projected over6 feet into the air, exploding, or items such as firecrackers.

Fireworks that shoot anything are illegal. In an effort to reduce illegal fireworks use, the City of Visalia has doubled the fine to $2,000 for those caught. To report illegal fireworks call 559-513-8080.

Illegal fireworks are often brought in from other states and may even contain a mix of legal and illegal fireworks. In an effort to reduce illegal fireworks use, the City of Visalia has doubled the fine to $2,000 for those caught. To report illegal fireworks call 559-513-8080.

Tulare Fire Marshal Ryan Leonardo says it is essential to only purchase and use fireworks from approved sites and include a proper California seal of approval.

" A lot of these fireworks that are both "Safe and Sane" and illegal are going to look very similar to each other," he said. "The biggest thing that citizens can do is look for that Safe and Sane logo. Safe and sane fireworks will have the state logo printed on the packaging, and any illegal fireworks will not."

During last year's July 4 celebrations, two people lost their hands to illegal fireworks in Tulare County. While injuries are traumatic for victims, they can also have a long-lasting impact on fire personnel, Porterville Fire Marshal Clayton Dignam said.

"We see a lot of injuries. We've actually seen deaths within our county as a result of the use of illegal fireworks. Several years ago, we had an individual who modified several Piccolo Petes by taping them together. And when he ignited them, they launched across the street and hit a 4-year-old child in the chest and had to be transported to the hospital."

Another concern is the never-ending California drought, which according to the fire agencies, poses a real threat for wildfires and homes catching fire.

"We are several years into a drought in California, and our prevention divisions throughout the county do a good job of trying to get ahead," Dignam said. "However, there are those places we haven't got to yet. And the risk of those igniting from the use of illegal or dangerous fireworks is very high." .

Another tool to deter the use of illegal fireworks in the city of Tulare is the steep financial penalties for those caught using or selling illegal fireworks. Depending on the offense, fines can range from $2,000 to $4,000.

"During the weekend of the Fourth of July and Monday, we are teaming up with the Tulare Police Department and having patrols throughout the city that we know are a little more high risk for using illegal activity," Tulare Fire Chief Michael Ott said.

For those looking to celebrate a local alternative for residents this year is the 55th annual Tulare Kiwanis Fireworks show at the Tulare County Fairgrounds happening Sunday, July 3.

An on July 4, Rawhide will host the Firework Extravaganza after their 7p.m. game with Lake Elsinore at Valley Strong Stadium.

In an effort to reduce illegal fireworks use, the City of Visalia has doubled the fine to $2,000 for those caught. To report illegal fireworks call 559-513-8080.

Bear encourages people to keep safety top of mind and leave the fireworks up to professionals.

"Go find a show in your local area," she said. "There are many going on here in Tulare County that are putting on celebrations, whether they be on the second, the third, or even the Fourth of July."