For many people, the Fourth of July and fireworks go together
like stars and stripes. But while hundreds of fires rage throughout
California and the Central Coast, the sight of fireworks stands
popping up in parking lots across Hollister has some residents
wondering if selling explosives –
”
safe
”
or not – is a good idea.
For many people, the Fourth of July and fireworks go together like stars and stripes. But while hundreds of fires rage throughout California and the Central Coast, the sight of fireworks stands popping up in parking lots across Hollister has some residents wondering if selling explosives – “safe and sane” or not – is a good idea.
Every year, the safe and sane variety of legal fireworks are sold around the Fourth of July, with proceeds benefiting area nonprofit local groups such as Community Pantry, Hollister Little League and the Hollister Exchange Club. These groups often rely on thousands of dollars in revenues from the sales.
The exceptionally dry conditions of the surrounding landscape, however, have prompted cities like Gilroy and Watsonville to consider banning all fireworks. Gilroy’s City Council rejected the idea this week, while Watsonville’s approved it.
Safe and sane fireworks are any that don’t leave the ground and have a stamp of approval from the California fire marshal. Illegal fireworks – such as bottle rockets, M-80s and cherry bombs – make their way into the hands of local residents as well.
It’s this variety that has local officials worried.
Hollister Mayor Doug Emerson said he “doesn’t care for” the legal fireworks. But with stands already up and 12 nonprofit organizations anticipating big sales, it’s too late to consider banning them, he said.
“I think even the safe fireworks can be dangerous, especially for kids,” Emerson said. “I think (banning all fireworks) is something we’ll look at next year.”
Councilman Brad Pike agreed with Emerson that it’s too late to consider banning safe and sane fireworks this year. He did say, however, that he has received several calls about the issue this week and if it were up to him, he would eliminate all fireworks except those at public showings such as the July 4 display at Marguerite Maze Middle School.
“I think the words ‘safe and sane’ give people a false sense of security,” said Pike, a Saratoga fire captain. “The fact is, anything that is lit or explodes has the potential to start a fire or injure someone.
“Still, it’s a matter of balancing public safety needs with the needs of the nonprofits who rely on funds from the safe and sane fireworks.”
The officials’ comments that it’s too late to consider banning fireworks upset 26-year Hollister resident Doris Jones. She said a one-year “suspension” of all fireworks sales is necessary because of the extreme fire danger in the surrounding area.
“It’s not too late to suspend the sales, and as a taxpayer, I will hold (Emerson) responsible,” Jones said. “Everyone is tightening their belts with the economy, and I think the fireworks stands and nonprofits can tighten their belts, too. It’s absolutely irresponsible to sell fireworks of any kind with the fire danger where it is.”
Freedom Fireworks is the sole distributor in Hollister and in many other surrounding towns. Joann Dellamaggiore has run the company with her husband for more than 20 years. She said safe and sane fireworks are not a danger and it’s only the illegal fireworks that cause a problem.
“I think people who are planning to buy and use illegal fireworks are going to do it whether legal fireworks are sold or not,” she said. “Eliminating safe and sane fireworks is not going to eliminate illegal fireworks. But it will eliminate the revenues that a lot of nonprofits depend on.”
David Ortiz is secretary of the Hollister Exchange Club and runs its booth near Straw Hat Pizza on San Felipe Road. He contended that if a ban is enacted here, residents would merely buy their fireworks in other cities where it’s legal or use illegal ones instead.
He noted how many of the organizations that would suffer are youth oriented. His group, he said, makes about $8,000 each year on the sales.
“If they don’t have places to buy fireworks, they’re going to buy the illegal ones, and there’s not enough police to get everybody,” he said.
Hollister police will patrol the city looking for people with illegal fireworks, and while the fire department may only confiscate the explosives, police spokeswoman Rosie Betanio said officers will be writing tickets. A conviction for possessing illegal fireworks carries a maximum $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
“Every year we have a lot of calls for fireworks,” she said. “This year, we’ll be out in force and people with illegal fireworks will be cited and released.”
With the fire danger as high as it is, anything that leaves the ground and explodes has the potential to start a fire, said Hollister Fire Chief Fred Cheshire.
For the Hollister Fire Department, the Fourth of July is a busy time. Coupled with the parched conditions of surrounding landscape, the idea of shooting explosives off into the night is a worrisome thought for the chief.
The fire department already has confiscated 110 pounds of illegal fireworks – including bottle rockets and mortars – which is already well ahead of last year when a total of 90 pounds of illegal fireworks were taken.
“We will be out in force going after illegal fireworks with more authority than last year,” Cheshire said. “People who use the safe and sane fireworks still need to be careful. Have a garden hose nearby in case anything goes wrong and always use adult supervision with kids.”
John Perales is one of those residents concerned about something going wrong. He’s a 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran and longtime Hollister resident and said the sound of exploding fireworks is nerve wracking for someone who saw real bombs explode in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
But he said fireworks present a problem not just for “shell-shocked” veterans, but for everybody.
“We don’t live in the year 1776 – we live in 2008,” Perales said. “Every year on the Fourth of July, the city turns into a war zone. The state is already burning up and here we are selling fireworks – and it’s legal. I think selling the legal fireworks makes people want to get the illegal ones, too.”
