17 months ago
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA - With hundreds of wildfires raging around the state, Gov. Schwarzenegger Wednesday urged Californians not to buy or use fireworks this July Fourth holiday.
After a meeting with fire officials Wednesday morning at the Basin Complex fire command post in Monterey County, Schwarzenegger made the unusual recommendation to help firefighters battling to control about 700 wildfires that continued to burn statewide following weekend lightning storms.
"I know that the people that are selling all this stuff are going to go crazy now when I say this, but don't buy fireworks," Schwarzenegger said. "You will help the fire department and the state and law enforcement and everyone a tremendous amount if you want to contribute and make sure those fires go away and we don't have more fires coming up,
"Be careful," he continued. "Don't buy the fireworks. Don't go out and play with fireworks because its just too dry and too dangerous to do these things."
Groups Fear Loss of Fireworks Income
Meanwhile, many school, civic and other groups and charities who depend on fireworks sales each year to keep their organizations running were concerned about the governor's request.
"We can make $3,000, $4,000, up to $5,000 a year. It's a huge chunk of change for us," said Modesto High School football coach Rod Long.
Long said the money from fireworks sales pays for about half of the school's uniform and equipment needs.
With actual sales starting Saturday, fireworks stands began popping up all over the city of Modesto Wednesday. Modesto High's football stand won't open until July 1."It's a good way for us to make good money in a short period of time," said Long.
Kim Miller is a booster for the high school's sports programs. The cheerleader squad and baseball team have booths as well this summer.
"It makes a huge difference," said Kim Miller, a booster of the school's various sports programs. "There are no funds available in public school for sports. Every little bit helps. We need to find money for these kids to play sports." In addition to the football booth, Miller said Modesto High's cheerleading squad and baseball team also had fireworks booth fundraisers planned this summer.
Illegal Fireworks Crackdown Promised
While Schwarzenegger sought a stop to all fireworks use this summer, State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan issued a stern warning to anyone in California Wednesday considering the use of illegal fireworks: "Consider this your first and only warning," she said. "We are determined to put a stop to it."
Standing next to a table of illegal fireworks at a fire station in Sacramento's Fair Oaks neighborhood, Dargan detailed the dangers of illegal fireworks and outlined a new law that increases the penalties for selling or using illegal fireworks.
"Children are being injured, maimed for life, fires are being caused," said Dargan. "You just can't live in California without understanding how serious the fire problem is."
Dargan said just across the border in Nevada, dangerous fireworks the size of missiles are easily available. "They cause injuries, they cause fires, and they are a significant fire problem for California," Dargan said.
Senate Bill 839, which became effective January 1, increased penalties for the sale and use of illegal fireworks. The law raised fines for the use of illegal fireworks and even allows the state to suspend the commercial driver's license of someone involved in the transportation of illegal fireworks.
Where Safe and Sane Fireworks Are Legal
Sacramento County
Citrus Heights
Elk Grove
Elverta
Folsom
Galt
Isleton
Rancho Cordova
North Highlands
Carmichael
Fair Oaks
Antelope
Rio Linda
Sacramento
Sacramento County
Walnut Grove
San Joaquin County
Ripon
Vernalis
Escalon
Manteca
Yolo County
Winters
Woodland
Yolo County
Placer County
Lincoln
Rocklin
Roseville
Nevada County
Grass Valley
Nevada City
Solano County
Rio Vista
News10/KXTV
