A Northern California home faces a $100,000 citation after fire officials said drones captured people setting off numerous illegal fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday.
The citation, tied to a gathering at a home in Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights neighborhood, is the largest disclosed so far by the Sacramento Fire Department from this year’s holiday crackdown, according to KCRA. The agency said it issued about 70 citations on July 4 alone, totaling roughly $300,000, and was still reviewing potential violations from July 2 and 3.
California cities and counties have increasingly turned to drones, higher fines and property owner liability rules to deter illegal fireworks as dry conditions, wildfire risk and holiday crowds create dangerous conditions.
Capt. Justin Sylvia, a Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson, told KCRA that crews watched people unload fireworks from a U-Haul trailer at the Del Paso Heights gathering.
“We just sat there with the drone, and we just counted,” Sylvia said.
At some point, the trailer caught fire, Sylvia said. People at the gathering extinguished it with a garden hose and a fire extinguisher.
No fireworks-related injuries were reported, but crews responded to about 100 fires and 292 calls for service, most involving smaller grass fires, Sylvia said.
The department had seven drones in the air on July 4 and plans to acquire more.
“Our drone surveillance footage is crystal clear,” he said. “You could read address numbers.”
Illegal fireworks have long been a problem in California, where local governments and fire agencies warn that aerial explosives can ignite vegetation, damage homes and injure bystanders. Fireworks that explode, leave the ground or move unpredictably are generally illegal under state and local rules unless they are part of a permitted professional display.
Sacramento officials warned residents before the holiday that illegal fireworks could bring fines of up to $10,000. City guidance also says property owners and renters may be held responsible if illegal fireworks are used on their property unless they take immediate steps to stop the activity and contact law enforcement.
Sacramento County officials strengthened their fireworks ordinance this year, allowing penalties to be applied to each illegal firework. The updated guidance says legal “safe and sane” fireworks were allowed only during limited hours from June 28 through July 4.
Sacramento fire officials said this year’s Fourth was less destructive than some previous holidays. Last year, one person received more than $1 million in fines, and another received $470,000 in citations after authorities found 47 devices on the person and in a vehicle.
“This is something that, unfortunately, we do see,” Sylvia said. “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.”
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This article originally published at Northern California home issued $100,000 fine over illegal Fourth of July fireworks.