Kids These Days:

This year marks a turning point in the life of Costa Mesa’s fireworks sales.

This year, residents generated more controversy over continuing the sales than did the City Council, which chose quickly and wisely to maintain the program.

Had they decided to stop, we could have been looking at the end of many youth programs.

You see, one of the alternatives to the booth sales of fireworks and allowing residents to fire them off on city streets was to have a central fireworks display, charge folks for the privilege to watch up close, then donate the money to those youth programs.

But as the Los Angeles Times reported recently, cash-strapped communities across the country are canceling their fireworks shows.

With a budget deficit of approximately $19 million and the cost of the city’s own youth programs already in question, Costa Mesa could easily have been another town to cancel the patriotic display.

Instead, they’re back.

Last year’s fireworks season was a relatively quiet one and that no doubt contributed to allowing sales this year.

The expectation this year is that the use of illegal fireworks — those are the ones that cause most of the problems — will all but vanish from the city limits, thanks to an expanded education and enforcement program.

Fireworks safety should not be taken for granted and it behooves every fireworks user to toe the line or expect that next year, fireworks sales will once again be up for discussion.

So, with thanks to reader Brian Theriot, who suggested I list them, here are some key fireworks safety tips, courtesy of the National Council on Fireworks Safety:

1) Use fireworks outdoors only.

2) Always have water handy in a hose or bucket.

3)Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.

4) Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

5) Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.

6) Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated shooter.”

7) Only persons older than 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.

8) Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives. They can kill you!

9) Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

And here are a few of my own:

1) Never light fireworks near a car or motorcycle.

2) Never smoke while lighting fireworks.

3) If you throw your spent fireworks in a trash can, make sure it is hosed down and store it overnight away from anything flammable.

Readers may remember that last year I got lazy and did not follow the last rule. The result was a trash can that melted due to fireworks that were not properly extinguished. Fortunately, the trash can was stored at the curb, away from our home and cars.

One Costa Mesa resident whose trash can also caught on fire was not so lucky and part of his home burned.

In New York, the anti-terrorism campaign slogan is “If you see something, say something.” That is an appropriate slogan for the residents of Costa Mesa who know of illegal fireworks exploding or of the illegal use of legal fireworks.

Fireworks sales start this week. Buy lots of fireworks and support the many youth programs that will benefit, but resist the temptation to fire them until the designated hours Saturday.

Count on the police and fire departments to strictly enforce the rules. They know where the hot spots usually are. So do readers, one of whom asked me to point out that the intersection of Arbor Street and Whittier Avenue may require some special attention this year.

Happy birthday, America.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to [email protected] .