Costa Mesa readying for safe and sane holiday

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- Local officials say the Fourth of July will be happy and

festive as long as people aren’t launching bottle rockets from their

frontyards or lighting Piccolo Petes in Canyon Park.

The city has allowed fireworks in celebration of the Fourth of July

for several years now. But only those fireworks approved by the state’s

fire marshal are allowed.

“Anything that’s a flying projectile or an explosive is generally

illegal,” said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

Violators are usually cited, he added.

“Normally, we don’t arrest people unless they are carting a truckload

of fireworks,” he said. “Arrests are also made when people create

potential safety hazards.”

The Police Department also receives several fireworks-related calls on

the Fourth of July, even though the city permits them, Birney said.

“It just bothers them,” he said. “And they call to tell us There are

about 51 stands that will start selling fireworks in Costa Mesa beginning

Sunday, said Costa Mesa Fire Marshall Tom Macduff.

Macduff’s responsibility is to inspect the stands and ensure they are

selling only firecrackers approved by the state fire marshal.

“Anything that is safe and sane is allowed in Costa Mesa,” he said.

What is safe also changes from year to year, said Macduff, who also

checks the stands’ electrical system and ensures employees can exit in

case of a fire.

The most common incidents in previous years include fires in trash

cans and trash bins, Macduff said.

“The safest way to put out firecrackers is to douse them in a bucket

of water before disposing them,” he said.

Bottle rockets are extremely dangerous because they set fire to wood

shingle roofs and dry grass. Lighting any kind of fireworks in any of the

city’s parks is prohibited, Macduff said.

“However, we haven’t had any significant incidents over the last

several years,” he said. “Hopefully, it’ll stay that way.”