It’s Not Sane, It’s Not Safe

What toll will fireworks take in Orange County this year? Last year they injured 11 people and caused about $125,000 in fire damage, mostly from the so-called safe and sane fireworks. And 1984 was considered a relatively safe year.

In 1983 one youth lost a finger and part of a knuckle, another lost a toe, a man lost part of his hand and thumb and two families were left homeless in Fullerton in accidents and fires caused by fireworks. It was worse in 1981 when 32 people were injured and fires caused $2.5 million in property damage.

In 1980 a sparkler caused the largest fire in Tustin’s history when a 90-unit apartment building was destroyed. That finally prompted residents to vote to ban all fireworks. Four other cities in the county also ban all fireworks. So do most states, many cities and the neighboring counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Orange County and all of its cities should, too. They could still celebrate July 4th, but as experience has shown in communities that ban fireworks, they would do so with fewer injuries and losses.