Fireworks laws vary in Valley
Fireworks are a great American tradition on the Fourth of July, but laws regulating fireworks discharge change from one town to the next in Imperial County and for most part, the final authority rests with fire department administrations.
El Centro allows TNT’s safe and sane fireworks between June 28 and July 4 purchased from one of five licensed vendors: El Centro First Assembly of God, 2150 N. Waterman St., Youth For Christ, 750 N. Imperial Ave., EL Centro Optimist Club, 2351 S. Fourth St., and 351 Wake Ave., and Christ Community Church, 3451 S. Dogwood Ave., noted Angel Hernandez, Community Development Department assistant planner.
No Roman candles or bottle rockets are permitted but firecrackers and sparklers are OK. Fireworks can only be used on private property. They should never be used next to buildings or anything combustible nor in city parks or streets. They are best used on private property on a paved surface. And best precaution is to have only adults, 18 and older handle fireworks.
Brawley allows safe and sane fireworks also. Vender stands went up Wednesday and continue through Tuesday with sales from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., noted Brawley Fire Chief Chuck Peraza. Stands are located in the Vons parking lot, next to Ortiz Recycling Center, Walmart parking lot, Gateway Church of Brawley and the 1500 block of Main Street.
No fireworks are allowed on city property, including parks.
It is recommended fireworks be used away from dwellings and dry vegetation. Keep a water source nearby and a bucket of water to extinguish fireworks after their use. Also make certain all fireworks are completely out before throwing them into the trash.
In Calexico, the only fireworks permitted are also safe and sane type sold by Walmart or Rite Aid, as everything else is illegal, noted Humberto Felix, Calexico fire inspector. Any fireworks set off should be monitored by parents and young children should not handle them at all. Nobody under 18 may purchase fireworks. And it is always recommended those using fireworks keep a bucket of water close by for emergencies and extinguish any still smoldering fireworks with water.
In Westmorland, again, safe and sane fireworks are permitted, but no cherry bombs or fireworks purchased in Mexicali are allowed, noted Sally Traylor, city clerk. Class C or consumer fireworks are allowed.
These can include sparklers and firecrackers with no more than 50 milligrams of powder. Also allowed are novelty items such as ground spinners and party poppers.
Calipatria also allows safe and sane fireworks that are sold by merchants with a California State Fire Marshal’s retail license. “This year we got two certified stands,” said Calipatria Fire Chief Chris Hall. “All legal fireworks have a stamp on the fireworks itself or the packaging. California allows sales June 28 to July 6. But here, we don’t allow sales after midnight July 4.”
A good rule of thumb is, any fireworks that flies thru the air is illegal but if it remains on the ground it is permissible in Calipatria. For any airborne fireworks the user must be an authorized holder of a pyrotechnics’ license. “We prefer people do fireworks on pavement and away from shrubbery and have a bucket of water in case of an emergency,” said Hall. “It’s a $500 fine if used illegally. We do intensely patrol the city on July 4. That’s how we make it work here.”
However, fireworks will not be allowed in the city of Imperial, noted Alexis Chalupnik, executive assistant to the city manager. “But we invite everybody to go to the Freedom Fest to enjoy the fireworks display,” said Chalupnik.
For the unincorporated parts of the county fireworks are permitted under limited conditions. According to the California Health and Safety Code; Section 12529, no person shall possess or ignite in any manner any firecracker or fireworks, including any article for the making of a pyrotechnic display, noted Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter, intergovernmental relations director.
But nothing shall prohibit displays of fireworks at public gatherings or patriotic celebrations as long as a permit has been obtained.