As Sacramento fire officials continue to work through illegal fireworks citations from this Fourth of July season, they confirmed the largest fine issued so far is $100,000. That citation is going toward a home in the Del Paso Heights area, where there was a gathering and numerous illegal fireworks, Capt. Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department said.Leer en Español.If caught with illegal fireworks in Sacramento County, people may be arrested or cited, and they could face fines of up to $10,000 per device. The fee depends on the number of fireworks and if the devices are near schools, parks or critical infrastructures.”We just sat there with the drone, and we just counted,” Sylvia said of crews’ responding to the Del Paso Heights home.Sylvia said crews watched the people loading fireworks out of a U-Haul trailer, which caught fire at some point. The people at that gathering put out the fire with a garden hose and a fire extinguisher.This year, Sacramento Fire, as well as many other agencies across the state, are cracking down on illegal fireworks, which are any type of explosive that leaves the ground.| RELATED READ | More than illegal fireworks, these explosives are funding gangs in CaliforniaCapt. Sylvia said this year was not as busy as years past. He said there were no structure or vehicle fires and that it was mostly smaller grass fires. “Nothing got out of hand where we needed additional resources, or it involved any type of structures or anything like that,” Sylvia said.There were also no fireworks-related injuries, Sylvia said.Sylvia said it had seven drones up on the Fourth of July and gave 70 citations on that night, totaling about $300,000 total in fines. The department expects the number to increase because it is still working through citations from July 2 and 3. Crews also responded to 100 fires and received 292 calls for service.When asked what helped this year, Sylvia said the messaging about the department’s drone program, as well as the increased penalties for illegal fireworks, helped crews in their crackdown. Regardless, Sylvia noted that illegal fireworks were observed from north Sacramento to south Sacramento.| VIDEO BELOW | Illegal fireworks on the Fourth of JulyLast year, Sylvia said more than $1 million in fines was issued to a single individual. Another person received $470,000 in citations for having 47 devices on their person and in their vehicle.”This is something that, unfortunately, we do see. A hundred thousand dollars is a hefty fine, but it’s also pretty hefty when you light someone’s house on fire with illegal fireworks,” Sylvia said.When asked if there was any data available yet on repeat offenders, Sylvia said not yet but then spoke of how efficient the department’s drones are.”Our drone surveillance footage is crystal clear,” Sylvia said. “You could read address numbers with our drones. Our drones are very advanced, and we have seven of them now.”Sylvia said the department plans on acquiring more drones.| MORE LIKE THIS | How agencies across Northern California responded to illegal fireworks on the Fourth of JulyOn the night of the Fourth, LiveCopter 3 observed many large, illegal fireworks in the sky, as well as multiple vegetation fires that kept crews busy throughout the night.Other local agencies, such as the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, also worked to prepare for illegal fireworks. Deputies were out ahead of July 4, confiscating illegal fireworks from repeat offenders who are violating the terms of their probation. Read more here.Parents of minors will be held responsible if their children are caught with illegal fireworks, officials said.See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
As Sacramento fire officials continue to work through illegal fireworks citations from this Fourth of July season, they confirmed the largest fine issued so far is $100,000.
That citation is going toward a home in the Del Paso Heights area, where there was a gathering and numerous illegal fireworks, Capt. Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department said.
If caught with illegal fireworks in Sacramento County, people may be arrested or cited, and they could face fines of up to $10,000 per device. The fee depends on the number of fireworks and if the devices are near schools, parks or critical infrastructures.
“We just sat there with the drone, and we just counted,” Sylvia said of crews’ responding to the Del Paso Heights home.
Sylvia said crews watched the people loading fireworks out of a U-Haul trailer, which caught fire at some point. The people at that gathering put out the fire with a garden hose and a fire extinguisher.
This year, Sacramento Fire, as well as many other agencies across the state, are cracking down on illegal fireworks, which are any type of explosive that leaves the ground.
| RELATED READ | More than illegal fireworks, these explosives are funding gangs in California
Capt. Sylvia said this year was not as busy as years past. He said there were no structure or vehicle fires and that it was mostly smaller grass fires.
“Nothing got out of hand where we needed additional resources, or it involved any type of structures or anything like that,” Sylvia said.
There were also no fireworks-related injuries, Sylvia said.
Sylvia said it had seven drones up on the Fourth of July and gave 70 citations on that night, totaling about $300,000 total in fines.
The department expects the number to increase because it is still working through citations from July 2 and 3.
Crews also responded to 100 fires and received 292 calls for service.
When asked what helped this year, Sylvia said the messaging about the department’s drone program, as well as the increased penalties for illegal fireworks, helped crews in their crackdown. Regardless, Sylvia noted that illegal fireworks were observed from north Sacramento to south Sacramento.
| VIDEO BELOW | Illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July
Last year, Sylvia said more than $1 million in fines was issued to a single individual. Another person received $470,000 in citations for having 47 devices on their person and in their vehicle.
“This is something that, unfortunately, we do see. A hundred thousand dollars is a hefty fine, but it’s also pretty hefty when you light someone’s house on fire with illegal fireworks,” Sylvia said.
When asked if there was any data available yet on repeat offenders, Sylvia said not yet but then spoke of how efficient the department’s drones are.
“Our drone surveillance footage is crystal clear,” Sylvia said. “You could read address numbers with our drones. Our drones are very advanced, and we have seven of them now.”
Sylvia said the department plans on acquiring more drones.
| MORE LIKE THIS | How agencies across Northern California responded to illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July
On the night of the Fourth, LiveCopter 3 observed many large, illegal fireworks in the sky, as well as multiple vegetation fires that kept crews busy throughout the night.
Other local agencies, such as the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, also worked to prepare for illegal fireworks. Deputies were out ahead of July 4, confiscating illegal fireworks from repeat offenders who are violating the terms of their probation. Read more here.
Parents of minors will be held responsible if their children are caught with illegal fireworks, officials said.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google