Officials Ramping Up Efforts to Supress Use of Illegal Fireworks Amid Increasingly Worrisome Fire Weather

The Pasadena Fire Department is taking a proactive approach to mitigate potential hazards of illegal fireworks during the forthcoming Fourth of July weekend.

This year the state is in the midst of severe drought conditions and as hot, dry weather continues, fireworks-related fires loom as a significant concern.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting last Wednesday Fire Chief Chad Augustin pointed to the Fireworks Task Force, formed annually as a cooperative the city’s fire and police departments.

“The task force patrols Pasadena nightly leading up to the July 4th holiday with an emphasis on fireworks prevention, education and enforcement,” Augustin told Pasadena Now in an interview.

Last year, illegal fireworks sparked a fire that burned through a Pasadena house, causing major damage to a home and two neighboring apartment units, as well as a half-dozen cars.

Officials believed the flames had been sparked by two children who had been playing fireworks.

The city recently amended its municipal code to allow for property owners or tenants who allow fireworks to be used on their properties to be held responsible, in addition to those actually lighting them.
Police and fire officials confiscated roughly 50 pounds of fireworks last year.

So far, the department has posted 25 warning signs so far this year and is planning to put up more.

The department has also started what Augustin called “a robust messaging campaign,” inspected 4,000 hazardous vegetation sites and set up volunteers prepared to go door-to-door in areas where there are complaints of fireworks.

As of June 22, there had been no fireworks-related fires or injuries reported in 2022 and no fireworks confiscated this year to date.

“This is a testament to the great work the task force has done to limit the availability of fireworks within Pasadena,” Augustin remarked.

Despite reporting zero cases, officials are still ramping up their efforts to prevent illegal fireworks taking into consideration the drought conditions and the high chance for fires to start.

Augustin said the department will promote awareness through postings on social media and the posting of banners and placards in Pasadena Transit buses, on public buildings throughout the City and on City Police, Fire and Public Works vehicles.

The department will also increase patrols in the days leading up to the Fourth of July, said Augustin.

Fireworks suppression also continues across the region.

On Monday, police evacuated residents in Azusa after authorities discovered a cache of illegal fireworks inside a residence. A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad was called to the scene to render the fireworks safe.