Despite having only one car on patrol, the Hollister Fire
Department and Code Enforcement Office collected nearly two garbage
bags full of illegal fireworks over the July 4 weekend
– but it was much less than past years with more staffing.
Despite having only one car on patrol, the Hollister Fire Department and Code Enforcement Office collected nearly two garbage bags full of illegal fireworks over the July 4 weekend – but it was much less than past years with more staffing.
The bags of fireworks were not weighted or counted, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless said. Instead, they were quickly put into storage at the fire department.
The amount found is at least four or five times less than normal years, Chambless said.
This year the fire department had to cut its patrol from normally three to five cars a night to only one because of budget reasons. The department couldn’t afford the overtime.
“The fire department is laying people off so they don’t have the money for it,” Chambless said.
Already down to only one patrol, a fire Friday night depleted the fire department’s sole patrol when it was called in to assist. The fire on Park Hill burned through two to three acres and caused no structure damage.
Crews were on site for around two hours, Fire Chief Fred Cheshire said last week.
