Fireworks crackdown long overdue

It’s grimly ironic that the Santa Clarita City Council voted Tuesday evening to put eth into the city’s anti-fireworks dinance. It was just one evening after a wildfire ran rampant through the ty of Santa Rosa, destroying an timated 2,834 homes and laying aste to about 400,000 square feet commercial space. We applaud the council for approving a reward of $500 for ose providing information that ads to the citation of someone sing fireworks. It’s past time to ke this action. All this week we’ve been atching from Southern California

the death toll in Northern alifornia’s multiple fires slowly ept upward. The slowly rising ll suggests firefighting personnel stoically moving from fire-leveled home site to fire-leveled home site, encountering skeletal remains of chimneys, unrecognizable piles of charred rubble, and the occasional human body of a person who was unable to get out fast enough.

News reports Friday indicated 31 reported deaths in NorCal fires, but perhaps more alarming: 400 people were unaccounted for in Sonoma County alone. It’s the deadliest week for wildfires in California history.

These aren’t the types of Northern California fires we’re used to, ones that rage in vast stands of vacant forest, taking out the occasional cabin. These are fires in suburban tract housing or in commercial districts like Santa Rosa.

In short, fires in at least one city not unlike Santa Clarita.

For too long, Santa Clarita Valley residents have tamed fire each Independence Day and brought it into their neighborhoods, boldly purchasing “safe and sane” fireworks at stands in Ventura County, sometimes traveling south of the border to buy the more dangerous firecrackers that can be purchased in Mexico.

The law against fireworks of all kinds – “safe and sane” fireworks are not legal in Los Angeles County – has been on the books for a long time, a requirement in communities that contract with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for fire protection.

But in Santa Clarita it’s often treated like a bit of advice from a not-very-credible doddering old aunt – not like it’s the law.

This year the city attempted an information drive shortly before July 4 on the dangers of fireworks, but the effect was minimal. Sheriff’s deputies responded to 116 complaints from residents, and many residents contacted The Signal to complain about late or nonexistent responses.

“After this year, it was clear we had to look at all options to get the illegal fireworks under control,” Mayor Cameron Smyth said Tuesday. The $500 reward is among those options. More personnel on duty at the Sheriff’s Station July 4 to answer phones – that’s also needed.

Meantime, residents whos holiday tradition includes a bloc fireworks show should forge new tradition in 2018. Your snoop neighbor may want to cash in o your old tradition.

Have your kids help you pla your new tradition, start early, an explain the danger of fireworks i the process.

We’re not saying firework caused any of the Norther California fires, which erupted during Santa Ana wind condition and during the height of fire season That information usually come well after the fires are out and ofte is never known.

But a reminder that fire isn’t play thing is always appropriate And sometimes it’s the grownup who need reminding.