Officials warn residents about ban on fireworks
By STEPHANIE TAFT Special to the Daily Press
CITYWIDE As the nation celebrates its birthday today, the Santa Monica Fire Department wants people to have a good time, yet remains adamant in there refusal to permit any use of fireworks in the city.
While fireworks are used with good intentions to celebrate Independence Day, pyrotechnic devices ranging from sparklers to aerial rockets cause thousands of fires and serious injuries each year, according to the nonprofit organization National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA said that the use of fireworks endangers not only users — often causing permanent scarring, loss of vision, or dismemberment — but also bystanders and surrounding property.
This also includes the use of so-called “safe and sane” fireworks, such as nonexplosive sparklers and Piccolo Peets. “’Safe and sane’ fireworks don’t exist,” said Dr. John Hall, NFPA assistant vice president of fire analysis and research. “When things go wrong with fireworks, they go very wrong, very fast, far faster than any fire protection provisions can reliably respond to.”
Public fireworks displayed by trained professionals are the safest alternative because they are conducted under controlled settings and regulations, fire officials said.
Santa Monica Fire Marshall Jim Glew added that “safe and sane” fireworks have been made illegal because people have “used them improperly and have found ways to creatively create explosive devices.”
Glew said the fine for being in possession of one or more “safe and sane” fireworks is at least $250, while being in possession of actual explosives, such as the popular cherry bomb, can be a felony offense.
In the past the SMFD has worked overtime to confiscate illegal fireworks on July 4th, however, in recent years the number of people using them has declined. That said, police and fire fighters will be on the lookout for anyone lighting up.
“The number of people who are using fireworks has gone down dramatically, but because of the misuse and hazards that even ‘safe and sane’ fireworks present to children … we felt it was in the best interest of public safety to ban them entirely in the city of Santa Monica,” Glew said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2008. Read the original PDF.