Jul 3 2016
Ideas for Stopping Illegal Fireworks in Pasadena @PasadenaFDChief @PPDChiefSanchez @pasadenagov
by on , [ no comment ]

Every year starting around middle of June and well into July, you will hear the loud explosions which sound like gunfire in many cases when illegal fireworks are ignited, many powerful enough to blow the limb off or maim a person.  Yet why is it that every year we continue to experience these incidents?

Here’s some info from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Using the hashtag #fireworkshurt and an annual report for 2015, with more details about injuries and deaths related to fireworks. Some stunning facts.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cmbwh3jWgAA5-Rt.jpg

 

The police and fire officials are busy dealing with other more important issues, from accidents to fires.

The fireworks we are experiencing that are illegal in all communities are M-80’s that make loud gunfire type explosions. But there’s the kind you can buy at surrounding communities where they are legal to buy and set off. These are classified as the “safe and sane”(not sure who came up with that, maybe the manufacturers). These “safe and sane” fireworks are sold by community organizations and perhaps are the number fundraising event of the year for many of these organizations, raising tens of thousands of dollars in many instances.

To those who think that fireworks don’t cause damage or harm, just one example last year of a fire caused by fireworks, causing $3 million in damage!

 

Reading the postings on NextDoor, a neighborhood social media platform, you can see that illegal fireworks are a very “popular” topic.

So here’s some ideas for officials to consider.

  1. Drive in unmarked undercover vehicles when patrol the repeat problem areas.
  2. Enlist the help of police volunteers to isolate the problem areas.  Looking on NextDoor again, there are specific addresses residents have pointed out where the culprits live and fireworks are coming from.
  3. Offer a rewards for tips leading to arrest.  If there’s a zero tolerance for any type of fireworks in Pasadena, then city officials need to step it up and crack down. I am sure the city can come up with $100, or even $500.
  4. Put the challenge to Caltech or the community, help us catch those involved in illegal fireworks. The banners are a good start. Maybe even a hotline, where residents can call in and remain anonymous if they desire and report. According the Pasadena Police, all calls are followed-up on. Usually if there’s one incident or report of fireworks at a location, there will be more.
  5. Implement technology already in use for other criminal activity, including use of drones and sensors to triangulate gunfire.
  6. Education of those most prone to be involved in illegal fireworks. Just sow then this video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQGr3FSESHg
  7. Working with neighboring communities where “safe and sane” fireworks are sold to stop the sale and use. It has to be a multi-city effort.  There are probably some pretty shocking stats on the cost of fireworks to the city emergency response, where there are injuries or property, damage fires, etc.  Not to mention the pollution of the air, the sulfur odor remains in the air for days if there’s no breeze to blow it away.

Like we hear over and over again from PPD Police Chief Sanchez, the residents are the eyes and ears of the police, that without residents, the job of catching the “bad guys” becomes that much harder.

PasadenaNow was recently on scene with PPD to experience firsthand the challenges of locating those culprits involved in the use of illegal fireworks.

Here’s a tweet from Pasadena Fire Dept. Showing what the fines can be if you are caught.

If you want to see fireworks, encourage those with illegal fireworks to enjoy professional firework displays. Here’s the organizers of the Rose Bowl event, testing out the fireworks.

Here’s a recent tweet from PPD Chief Sanchez show a new SUV. Maybe there’s technology in it to help with catching those involved in illegal fireworks?

Share

Written by

View all posts by:

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: ,