Council Committee to Hear Report on Anti-Fireworks Push

Fireworks are illegal in Pasadena, but that’s been an inconvenient truth recently, as complaints have surged in the city – prompting the Police Department to form a Fireworks Suppression Unit that kicked into action last week.

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will meet Wednesday and get an update on the Suppression Unit’s progress, and its further plans, as the calendar moves toward July Fourth.

But Pasadena is hardly alone in these pyrotechnic problems, these noisy nuisances, these sometimes dangerous detonations.

Cities from coast to coast have reported huge spikes in fireworks – and fireworks complaints – ahead of July Fourth. Sometimes well ahead of July Fourth.

According to a CNN report, Boston reported an eye-popping 2,300 percent jump in calls to police regarding fireworks from last May to this May. New Yorkers have been hearing the bombs bursting in air long into the night for weeks now, prompting the mayor to form an illegal-fireworks task force to crack down. Similar stories are heard across the map.

The reason behind this explosion in explosives is unclear, though some have theorized it could be a cathartic reaction to people being cooped up for months because of the COVID-19 pandemic … literally blowing off steam.

As Eric Adams, the borough president of Brooklyn, told CNN, “Some said they were in their home for a few months, and this is just their way of having fun.’’

Whatever the reason, the surge is real, the aggravation level acute.

In Pasadena, there were 181 complaints regarding fireworks in the first two weeks of June, compared to 86 in all of June 2019. The May numbers tell a similar story: 61 complaints this May, 11 last May.

Police Lt. William Grisafe told Pasadena Now last week that calls “are from neighbors who are fearful of not only the explosive sounds, but also the potential danger fireworks can cause.”

Recent years have seen multiple fireworks-caused fires in Pasadena.

Grisafe also said that Suppression Unit officers are focusing on patrolling for violations and responding quickly to calls – taking a “proactive approach.”

City Councilman John J. Kennedy, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said Fire Department personnel have also been deputized “in the context of being able to provide tickets for those who would seek to break the law.’’

“Fireworks in the City of Pasadena are illegal, they’re disruptive, they’re unsafe, and historically there’s been a balance where we provided fireworks at the Rose Bowl to diminish the desire to have illegal fireworks in the City of Pasadena,’’ Kennedy said.

But this year, amid the pandemic, the Rose Bowl has canceled its usual “AmericaFest” fireworks show and tailgating. Instead, it’s planning a one-hour “virtual” on-line event featuring a light show.

“At the culmination of the online-based event, there will be a flyover of Pasadena and its most historic landmarks,’’ the Rose Bowl says on its website. “The flyover will be viewable from many Pasadena residents’ homes, as well as streamed online, providing equal access to this free event for all.’’

Kennedy, like the PPD, is hoping those diminished festivities won’t lead to an increase in private, illegal fireworks in Pasadena … on the Fourth, or in the days around the holiday.

“Each year thousands of people are injured by the use of illegal fireworks,’’ Kennedy said, speaking of nationwide numbers. “We are hopeful that our residents would police themselves and not use illegal fireworks.’’

City law specifies that fireworks are illegal, even on your own property. Violators are subject to arrest; having their vehicles impounded; and serving up to one year in jail and fines up to $50,000.

Officials say residents can call police at (626) 744-4241 to report illegal fireworks and other suspicious activities. Residents may also use the city’s smartphone app, available at www.cityofpasadena.net/csc.

Said Kennedy: “We’re just very hopeful that the super-majority of our community will abide by the law, which would not allow fireworks in our community. It’s just unsafe, it’s too unsafe.’’