It's been a decade since Salinas voters approved Measure C, allowing so-called "safe-and-sane" fireworks to be sold and used within the city on and around the Fourth of July.
And every year before and since, first responders are on high alert around the holiday, addressing a range of hazards related to fireworks from house fires and brush fires to noise complaints.
The 2016 ballot measure also calls for an annual presentation by the Salinas fire and police departments on their enforcement plans. Those presentations are set to take place tonight, Tuesday, April 7, when Salinas City Council meets starting at 4pm.
Fireworks enforcement is funded largely by a 7-percent surcharge on safe-and-sane fireworks sales, which nonprofit organizations conduct as a fundraising activity. (According to a presentation Fire Chief Sam Klemek will give Tuesday night, there is $68,000 in a fund balance from 2025 fireworks season.)
This year, there will be 18 fireworks stands allowed; qualified applicants were selected by lottery in March.
Because July Fourth is on a Saturday this year, the police department predicts an uptick in activity.
"The number of officers and sergeants assigned to fireworks enforcement is still to be determined," according to a memo prepared by SPD. "Sergeants will have access to all fireworks-related crime tips as they are logged by fire personnel and will assign cases to officers for investigation as needed. Enforcement actions will be taken whenever possible."
The department will again use drones in monitoring for illegal fireworks activity. Citations for violators start at $1,250.
City code allows officials to cite property owners where illegal fireworks activity is occurring, even if the property owner is not actually the individual in possession of or lighting illegal fireworks.
Signage about fireworks rules—in essence, zero tolerance with the exception of safe-and-sane fireworks purchased at approved nonprofit stands—will start going up on June 1.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.