Hands off fireworks in Huntington Beach

The Fourth of July is a time for lighting up the sky along the coast and throughout the country. But in Huntington Beach, fireworks are for watching — not for setting off — and the city said it plans to lay down the law this year.

Rising complaints about illegal fireworks have police and fire officials ready to enforce the ban more aggressively than ever. At the same time, new, higher fines mean violators who do get caught will pay double the old amount.

Unlike some California cities, Huntington Beach prohibits all kinds of fireworks, including those labeled “safe and sane,” said fire department Division Chief of Operations Eric Engberg. It’s not only illegal to use them, he said, but also to sell them, possess them or store them.

A couple of exceptions to that rule make enforcement harder, however. Westminster and Costa Mesa both allow “safe and sane” fireworks just across city limits from Huntington Beach. And while bringing them into town is strictly forbidden, it certainly happens, Engberg said.

“It can be a factor because people have the potential to access those fireworks from those adjoining communities,” he said.

That’s one reason why officers and firefighters will fan out across the city in teams, citing anyone they catch with fireworks, whether a tiny sparkler or a federally banned M-80.

It’s tough to figure out why complaints have gone up over the last decade since the bordering cities that sold fireworks were always there, Engberg said. Rising population is his best guess.

The increase comes even as other kinds of rowdiness are on the decline, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Craig Junginger.

“We’ve actually seen a decrease of party noise complaints we’re responding to,” he said. “Some of that might be because the recent holidays have been on weeknights. But the big party calls in the past aren’t there anymore.”

Whatever the cause, it is definitely happening, Junginger said. Last year the Independent reported that police responded to about 80 calls relating to arson or fireworks on the Fourth of July, issuing 27 citations; there was one significant hand injury related to fireworks, police said at the time.

“The e-mails and phone calls have been more the last year or so,” Junginger said. “Just being out there last year, the whole downtown area was heavier with fireworks than it has been in years past.”

That’s why the City Council passed new fines in the last year: $500 for a first fireworks offense and $1,000 each time after that. Major offenders could still face far worse, Engberg said.

If your stash of illegal fireworks is large enough to exceed state health codes, you might face worse fines or even jail time.

“We just want everyone to have a safe holiday,” he said.

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