The Fourth of July can feel like a “war zone” for some neighborhoods in OC.

It’s a term residents and at least one elected official in cities like Anaheim and Santa Ana have used to describe the rampant barrage of illegal fireworks on Independence Day that leave the sky blanketed in smoke.

“During this time of year, it’s the number one complaint I think that we all get,” said Anaheim City Councilwoman Norma Campos Kurtz at last week’s city council meeting.

“I’ve got residents who say my neighborhood’s a war zone.”

On the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, police and fire officials in Anaheim are gearing up to crack down on the use of illegal fireworks as Cypress officials are expected to crack down on pyrotechnics in a town that has outright banned even safe and sane fireworks.

Last week, Cypress Councilwoman Bonnie Peat successfully suggested bringing back a social host ordinance allowing a property owner to be fined for having illegal fireworks – mirroring moves by cities like Anaheim, Fullerton and Stanton. 

Peat said fireworks are a year round problem in the city that deter the quality of life for residents and startle pets and is a fire risk and.

She suggested city officials implement a social host ordinance similar to Buena Park’s regulations and potentially use drones to help enforce it.

“It’s not that we want to issue fines. Honestly, we just want it to stop. We just want to deter and get rid of these things so we don’t end up having a major injury or a house that catches on fire or someone has a heart attack as a result of fireworks going off,” Peat said at the June 9 council meeting.

A majority of her colleagues expressed hesitation about bringing back an ordinance, instead suggesting they debate the issue further – but council members ultimately voted 4-0-1 to direct staff to draft the proposed law.

Mayor Leo Medrano abstained from the vote, arguing there needed to be greater discussion on the proposal, that the city doesn’t have drones and other cities are going back and forth on their social host laws to crack down on fireworks.

“If you read the Voice of OC and other ones, you’ll see that this is a much needed discussion but no one’s sure exactly how to skin this cat,” Medrano said.

Medrano added that neighboring cities allow safe and sane fireworks and suggested frustrated Cypress residents bring up the concerns with those elected leaders and Orange County Supervisors – who govern unincorporated territory – and call on them to ban all fireworks.

“Perhaps the better course of action will be concerned citizens going to those city council meetings,” he said. “Or maybe it’s rather something that needs to be handled at the Orange County level.”

In recent years, cities across the region like Anaheim, Orange, Fullerton, Stanton and Buena Park have implemented social host ordinance in an effort to crack down on illegal fireworks with hefty fines.

[Read: More Orange County Cities Look to Beef Up Fireworks Bans]

Other cities like Placentia, Irvine, Laguna Beach and La Habra have outright banned all fireworks in the city.

Independence Day: Anaheim Preps For The Fourth

Fireworks are set off in Orange County on Thursday, June 4, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC.

Last Tuesday, police and fire officials publicly presented their strategy to combat the use of illegal fireworks in Orange County’s largest city through the use of more police officers, firefighters, code enforcement and park rangers to enforce fireworks from now through the July 4th weekend.

“It won’t solve everything. We know that,” said interim city manager Greg Garcia

“Unfortunately, we’re already seeing and hearing fireworks in our neighborhoods, but we are significantly increasing our efforts with the goal of seeing more citations for violations and sending a clear message to those who choose to use illegal fireworks in our community,” Garcia said.

Police Lieutenant Jimmy Rodriguez said it has been hard to enforce illegal firework laws and the department averages a high number of calls on Independence Day over the past 6 years  – about 300 or more each Fourth of July.

“We’ve seen some enforcement issues with our non-sworn staff facing hostility, unruly crowds, and in some instances, assaults,” he said, adding this year the holiday lands on a Saturday.

This year, Rodriguez said they will have 15 officers dedicated to fireworks enforcement while 90 officers will be out on patrol.

He added officers will also be using drones ahead of the holiday. 

“We’re going to issue citations, we’re going to confiscate illegal fireworks and we’re going to identify and respond to any and all fire threats,” Rodriguez said, adding they have already started enforcement and issued two citations as of June 9.

City spokesman Mike Lyster said last year they didn’t issue any citations for illegal fireworks and just gave warnings – but that approach is changing this year.

“Sadly, each year we see rampant illegal fireworks that were never meant to be part of this holiday,” he said. “We are in a new period now and we have a new approach this year. We’ve shared with you a new resolve.”

Will Anaheim Ban Safe and Sane Fireworks After the Fourth?

A fireworks stand in Huntington Beach on June 20, 2020. Huntington Beach has a “safe and sane” fireworks ordinance that allows the sale of fireworks. A ban on fireworks in La Habra and La Palma will remain. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

Anaheim allows the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks with eight high schools and eight nonprofits permitted stands to sell the fireworks for fundraising efforts

Lyster said each booth can generate anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000.

Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava questioned if it was time the city outright banned safe and sane fireworks in Anaheim to help curb the use of illegal fireworks.

“TNT has actually said to us – ‘well, you’ll hurt your constituents because of the fundraising,’ but I mean, if we educate a lot of these nonprofits, the amount of time and energy spent to sell these fireworks does not benefit them or the kids,” she said.

“It is something that I would probably be interested in exploring after Fourth of July to see how this goes.”

Councilman Carlos Leon said the booths help raise money for students to attend tournaments.

“For some groups, this is the big fundraiser of the year,” he said.

Leon also pointed to the death of 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen, an Anaheim resident, who was killed in an illegal fireworks explosion last Fourth of July in Buena Park, as a reminder to residents to be responsible and to help keep each other safe.

“Jasmine’s family experienced an unimaginable loss on what should have otherwise been a celebratory day,” he said. 

“As we approach another Fourth of July to all of our residents, I hope that we carry that perspective with us, and that her memory encourages all of us to watch out.”

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.

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