by San Bernardino County
Fire Investigators
REPORTED
Monday July 3, 2017
BY
San Bernardino County Fire
Over
33,000 pounds of dangerous and illegal fireworks have been confiscated through weeks of
interdiction operations conducted by a multi-agency task force led by San
Bernardino County Fire Investigations Unit. San Bernardino County Fire
Investigators issued 146 citations totaling $182,500 in fines for possession of
illegal fireworks.
“San Bernardino County has a zero tolerance
policy for bringing any and all illegal fireworks into our
communities. Anyone attempting to smuggle these dangerous explosives into the
county will face a minimum $1,250 fine and a misdemeanor or felony charge with
the possibility of arrest,” San Bernardino County Fire Marshal Mike Horton
said.
With San Bernardino County facing a dangerous wildland fire
season, the San Bernardino County Fire Department (SBCoFD) has increased its
vigilance in enforcing state and county firework laws to protect
public health and safety.
The Multi-agency
Task Force includes representatives from San Bernardino County Fire Office of the Fire Marshal, Chino Hills Fire
Department, Loma Linda Fire Department, Ontario Fire Department, Rancho
Cucamonga Fire Department, and Rialto Fire Department. Investigators also
teamed up with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Arson/Bomb Squad to utilize K-9s
trained to sniff out explosives. Once seized, the illegal fireworks are picked
up by the State Fire Marshal’s office and are safely destroyed.
Fire officials will continue to issue citations
for the illegal use, possession, or storage of fireworks.
Property
owners may be cited if they allow fireworks to be possessed, stored, or used on
their property.
All
fireworks that explode, shoot into the air or move along the ground are termed
dangerous and are illegal anywhere in California. Safe and Sane Fireworks bare the State Fire Marshal seal on the
packaging and are only allowed in the following cities: Adelanto, Barstow,
Chino, Colton, and Rialto, as well as specific locations in Fontana, Grand
Terrace, and San Bernardino. Please call the fire department in these cities
for more information. All fireworks are illegal elsewhere in San Bernardino County.
Residents or anyone who observes any event of illegal fireworks can contact local authorities or to WeTip at 1-800-47-ARSON or WeTip.com