The use of illegal fireworks is a Fourth of July activity that police and fire agencies have to watch out for starting Friday night.
A little spot near an overpass in San Jose has been a hot spot for illegal fireworks before, and some people who live nearby say neighborhood shows are scary because they often take place near homes.
A homeowners’ group in San Jose has videotaped a lot of illegal fireworks activity over the years.
Jeff Levine of the Roosevelt Park neighborhood Association says increased enforcement by police and fire agencies has helped, but illegal fireworks are still an ongoing concern.
“Every night, every night there’s a handful. Some of them are quite close, and there are aerial explosives. Yeah, you still have them, but it’s significantly less than in years past,” he said.
Santa Clara County’s fire agency says it is much more aggressive about enforcement. They plan extra patrols that coordinate with police.
San Jose encourages the public to use a city app to report illegal fireworks and say they will also be using ‘drones’ to zero in on activity.
Cal Fire is also on increased alert, especially since stepping up enforcement in the cities could send people into the dry hills to set off their fireworks.
“Cal Fire’s approach will be to staff additional prevention officers and our firefighters are ready for the any challenges that may come, but we’re hoping everybody stays safe. We’re urging the community to leave the fireworks to the professionals and if you are in a jurisdiction that does allow fireworks make sure it’s the safe and sane fireworks.” Cal Fire Unit Chief Marcus Hernandez said.
The only Santa Clara County city that allows the sale of safe and sane fireworks is in Gilroy, where sellers, such as Victory Outreach, hand out copies of city regulations and warnings along with the fireworks.
“We do ask for a Gilroy ID making sure that they are residents and then, for safety, give them the city ordinance information, letting them know these are the areas that they are able to perform their fireworks, but there is a clear sheet with clear instructions on that information that we hand them and give them,” Victory Outreach worker Elisa Jimenez said.
Along with fines and other penalties for possessing or setting off illegal fireworks, officials also point out even those who knowingly attend and watch an illegal fireworks display can be cited.