This story was updated to correct the city where a drone fireworks show took place and to clarify that while the city’s fine for using illegal fireworks is a fine of up to $1,000, state law says the fines are a minimum of $1,000.
Last Fourth of July, Julie Freestone, a resident of the North and East neighborhood, stood in her backyard and watched flaming debris from illegal fireworks rain down onto the homes and streets around her.
“I felt like I was in a war zone,” Freestone recalled. “The explosions were coming from all around.” She frantically dialed 911 to report the fireworks but was so shaken that she couldn’t help but scream every time she heard another boom/explosion. “It was very stressful, and I swore that I would never go through something like this again.”
Then, in January, came the Los Angeles fires, including the Palisades Fire, which destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and killed 12 people. While it’s still under investigation, one theory is that it was ignited by embers from an earlier fire started by illegal New Year’s eve fireworks.
Galvanized by a desire to prevent a similar catastrophe here, Freestone has sent a letter to council members urging them to do more to crack down on illegal fireworks. She also spoke at a meeting, asking the council to put the topic on the agenda and discuss solutions. She recapped measures considered by the city in the past, including: Making a parent or landlord liable for the use of fireworks on private property; a buy-back program; an incentives program for those reporting illegal sales; and public forums to seek solutions.
Since then, Freestone told Richmondside she has only heard directly from council member Soheila Bana, who, as a member of the West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council, has been particularly proactive about preventing wildfires and has in the past suggested the city switch its fireworks show to a drone show, which Pinole has done. Not one to give up easily, Freestone posted her concerns on Nextdoor, leading to a lively discussion on the topic.
“We pretty much concluded that we can’t look to the council to do something. It’s in our hands. The community has a significant role in addressing this,” she said.
Freestone, a no-nonsense former reporter and public information officer, is no stranger to organizing around an issue. In the ‘90s, she worked on a successful campaign about the dangers of celebratory gun fire in Richmond by working with neighborhood councils and putting up signage. Now Freestone and other concerned residents are planning a similar education campaign to get the word out about the dangers of illegal fireworks.
Richmond police get thousands of fireworks calls but make few arrests
Since 2018, there have been more than 6,500 calls for service to Richmond police about illegal fireworks, or about 1,000 a year. But there have only been seven arrests, largely because catching someone with a firework in hand is trickier than many realize, say police and fire officials. The sale, purchase and use of personal fireworks is illegal and punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 in Richmond, though there is a state law the calls for a minimum fine of $1,000.
“If we didn’t see who lit it and there are 20 people standing around when we arrive, it’s hard to know who is responsible,” said Lt. Donald Patchin, a spokesperson for the Richmond Police Department. Fireworks are a Priority Two call, meaning that robberies, shootings and other crimes in progress are responded to first.
Contra Costa County law enforcement and fire departments regularly issue messages about the dangers of illegal fireworks, including posting large signs outside of fire stations in the weeks before the Fourth of July and posting on their respective websites and social media. The police also step up patrols during the holiday in hopes that seeing more police cars will discourage people from lighting fireworks. In 2019, the Richmond Fire Department attempted to go further and enforce the city’s laws banning the sale, purchase or use of fireworks but was met with hostility and threats of violence, said Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio.
“There were situations that put our personnel in danger,” said Osorio. “We don’t want to be the first point of contact with someone who has fireworks because it’s really not our role. We’re not law enforcement.”
difficult to make arrests if they don’t know who set off a particular firework. Courtesy Richmond Police Department Facebook. Credit: Richmond Police Department
Personal fireworks cause thousands of injuries and fires in the United States each year. And climate change is making the situation even more dire. Atmospheric rivers that drench California hills are increasing the amount of grass and shrubs that the increasingly hot summers turn from lush greenery into dry brush, creating perfect kindling that can ignite even a tiny spark.
Cal Fire’s Fire Hazard Severity Zones map shows neighborhoods east of Bernhard Avenue to San Pablo Dam Road fall into the severe fire risk zone. However, the majority of calls about illegal fireworks in Richmond come from the flats, including Iron Triangle, North and East, North Richmond and the Southside, according to Osorio.
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“We pretty much concluded that we can’t look to the council to do something. It’s in our hands. The community has a significant role in addressing this.”
— Julie Freestone, Richmond resident
With firefighters hesitant about confronting people who sell or set off fireworks, and police too busy responding to other calls or lacking enough evidence for an arrest, some say the onus falls on residents to record and report illegal fireworks in the community.
“These are our neighborhoods and no one knows them like we do,” said Michael Mejia, an East Richmond resident, on a recent Nextdoor thread. “If we want to stop them we need to pay more attention to these events as they happen and use that information to help our police and not just complain after the fact.”
Residents’ ideas include recording fireworks use and sending videos to police as evidence and creating a buy back program, which some cities do. “We want zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which are dangerous and illegal,” Freestone said. “We don’t have time to waste. It’s an all hands on deck situation.”
This is a cultural issue which requires men of common sense, and all ethnicities, to stand up to the relentless assault that traumatizes a major percentage of people and animals. Oh, and how about the 50 some illegal smoke shops selling explosives…STILL? Someone needs to stand up besides older white ladies. Last year several people diligently extinguished resultant fires in nick of time, a woman had her hair burnt from falling debris. A couple years ago neighbor and I vanquished a fire on roof.
Outreach/events/incentives educating kids and parents in most active territories, drones that can identify offenders, = more penalties/community service-lots of it. Signs at fire stations do absolutely nothing. Post them at local markets and gas stations. Have a lottery with worthwhile prizes, monetary, gift certificates, etc. for surrendered explosives. Cameras on movable base with lighting and signage very visible; some decoys. Start now.
Excellent story and so glad to see this getting some attention. The proliferation of illegal fireworks is insane and demands action to protect homes, lives and sanity. Richmond police have to take a role. These fireworks are ILLEGAL, so it isn’t an option for our PD to simply say it’s too complicated or difficult to enfore. Richmond’s City Council has to own this issue. They have to lead on this to make Richmond a safer more peaceful and enjoyable place to live.
Karina, I believe “The sale, purchase and use of personal fireworks is illegal and punishable up to $1,000 in fines in Richmond and many other Bay Area cities” is incorrect. The state law, which supersedes any city ordinance, lists a minimum $1,000 fine. The law was updated in 2023.
12700. (a) Except as provided in Section 12702 and subdivision (b), a person who violates any provision of this part, or any regulations issued pursuant to this part, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(b) A person who violates any provision of this part, or any regulations issued pursuant to this part, by possessing dangerous fireworks shall be subject to the following:
(1) A person who possesses a gross weight, including packaging, of less than 25 pounds of unaltered dangerous fireworks, as defined in Section 12505, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not exceeding one year, or both that fine and imprisonment. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, a person shall be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(See link below for fines for possession of more than 25 pounds).
12702. Notwithstanding Section 12700:
(a) A person who violates this part by selling, giving, or delivering any dangerous fireworks to any person under 18 years of age is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon a first conviction shall be punished as prescribed in subdivision (b) of Section 12700.
(b) Upon a second or subsequent conviction of the offense, the person shall be punished by an additional fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year or by both that fine and imprisonment. The person shall not be granted probation and the execution of the sentence imposed upon the person shall not be suspended by the court.
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1403/id/2844382
“In 2019, the Richmond Fire Department attempted to go further and enforce the city’s laws banning the sale, purchase or use of fireworks but was met with hostility and threats of violence, said Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio. ”
So why not have the police step in once threats of violence occur? That would be the appropriate step.