PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Palmdale Sheriff’s Station are joining in an effort to combat the use of illegal fireworks in Palmdale this Fourth of July, officials announced at a press conference Wednesday.
“Palmdale Sheriff’s Station will be deploying 32 additional deputies… to do nothing but fireworks enforcement,” said Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Captain Don Ford, adding that no warnings will be given. “Your warning is right now. Do not shoot off illegal fireworks,” Ford continued.
Citations run from $2,500 for the first offense to $10,000 for the third offense; and violators could even face criminal penalties, Ford stressed.
“Anything above an M-80 [firecracker] is considered a felony, and we will prosecute everything as such,” he said. “We have no tolerance for that.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Department will also deploy extra resources on the Fourth of July, said Battalion Chief Wes Anzai.
“We do have a task force along with the Sheriff’s and CHP, which will go around and police the area,” Anzai said.
Over the years, there has been an increase in the use of illegal fireworks throughout the entire Antelope Valley, said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.
“When you look at the sky, it’s hard to distinguish [between legal and illegal fireworks],” Ledford said. “But it’s not hard to differentiate between the communities that actually enforce and fine, Palmdale does. I think we’re the only city in the Antelope Valley that actually will write a citation,” Ledford continued.
Since the penalties went into effect in 2007, more than 280 individuals have been cited for illegal fireworks, Ledford said.
At Wednesday’s press conference, Palmdale city officials outlined the guidelines for using the “Safe and Sane” fireworks, which go on sale throughout the city this Saturday, June 28. (View the locations here.)
All “Safe and Sane” fireworks bear the official seal of the State Fire Marshal and may only be discharged within Palmdale city limits, from noon on Saturday, June 28 through noon on Saturday, July 5. Discharging fireworks before June 28 or after July 5 will subject the violators to fines, according to Palmdale Community Safety Supervisor Kelly Long.
NO fireworks —not even “Safe & Sane” —may be used in Fire Zone 4, which includes the Anaverde housing development, neighborhoods located on the south side of Rancho Vista Boulevard until it reaches Avenue N-8 and 60th Street West, and all areas south of the Aqueduct. View the “No Fireworks Zone” maps here and here.
“’Safe and Sane’ fireworks are illegal in Lancaster, Quartz Hill, Littlerock, Sun Village, Pearblossom, Acton, Lake Hughes, Agua Dulce, Antelope Acres, Leona Valley, Lake Elizabeth, and essentially all unincorporated areas of the [Los Angeles] County,” Long said.
To see if you live in a ‘no fireworks zone’ area where “Safe and Sane” fireworks are not allowed, access an interactive map on Palmdale’s website here.
Fireworks safety tips from the City of Palmdale
- Always read directions and use common sense.
- Have an adult present.
- Use outdoors only—away from buildings, vehicles, dry grass and other flammable objects.
- Light one at a time, then move quickly away.
- Keep others at a safe distance.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Never alter or take apart fireworks.
- Do not give fireworks to young children under any circumstances.
- Have a bucket of water handy for emergencies and for dousing misfired and spent fireworks.
- Never attempt to relight or fix malfunctioning fireworks.
Fourth of July pet safety precautions
- Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
- Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company.
- Consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she may experience during fireworks displays.
Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays, officials warned. Never leave pets outside unattended. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.
- Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly.
For more information, call 661-267-5181. To report illegal fireworks anonymously, call the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station at 272-2400.
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Previous related story: Fireworks go on sale in Palmdale June 28
Robert says
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS!!!! who the hell care if they are illegal or not, if you can’t read a calender then you probly should not be playing with fireworks ,legal or not, and the “zero tolerance’ policy!? give me a damn break, several of my neighbors and us call the cops year after year about just 2 houses on our street, the cops show up and of course the jack assed idiots tell the cops, “oh nor sir Mr. Sheriff we didn’t set off any fireworks”, and the cops say, “oh ok sorry to bother you” (hey copper, look at the trash in the street, DUH) Zero Tolerance my ass!, $2500.00 fine bull crap threat, the only thing going on here is that the law breakers have more rights than the honest, “NEED TO GET UP EARLY FOR WORK” law abiding people do. what a bunch of crap, this city if filled with sissy assed panzy’s who talk a bunch of [removed] about zero tolerance, and the cops don’t do more more either……….(time to start breaking the law, it seems the only way we can get ahead)
jip joe says
God grief, another example if LEO overreach and stoo-pidity. How many thousands will die this year alone from legal prescription drugs. No doctor or hospital admin arrested. How many cops will cause great bodily harm from a bad driving move in front of another person-yet nothing. How many will die from food poisoning-again, nothing will happen. Yet, 32, yep, THIRTY TWO ADDITIONAL COPS for fireworks. Wow.
RD says
I have called the cops 5 years in a row , when my neighbor rains down fire from illegal fire works on my house every year. Nothing ever happens, they never get fined and they just light them back up 5 min later and do it every year. How do I get someone to stop this???
Littlerock says
So far only one sky rocket this year, but I expect many more out in Littlerock. An area that sees a fair amount of skyrockets is between Ave S and Ave T between 95th and 106th East
David says
Considering our unprecedented drought and ongoing safety concerns I don’t understand why we still have legal fireworks sales. This is really risky and unsafe behavior showing poor public leadership.
Fact Checker says
I know I’m going out on a limb here but maybe because there haven’t been any fires caused by the legal fireworks? It’s the illegal ones that are a problem and guess what? They’re ILLEGAL! Does that stop idiots from using them? Nope.
John Doe says
Seriously, not a single fire has ever been caused by illegal fireworks? I highly doubt that, especially after recalling some of the stupid things we did with legal fireworks when I was much younger.
The problem with having legal fireworks around is that it’s tougher to spot the people using legal fireworks from the illegal ones. Well, at least it is in Palmdale since there are legal fireworks over there. Not so much in Lancaster since they are all illegal.
Fact Checker says
John Doe, it is ILLEGAL fireworks that cause the fires. They fly in the air and can land anywhere. Hence the designation of ILLEGAL. The legal fireworks do not fly. I have used them safely for years. They are as safe as using your BBQ. They are nothing like ILLEGAL fireworks. Those are the ones that you’ll’ see in the skies above Lancaster and Palmdale and everywhere else. Yes, Lancaster. I watch them every year from my friend’s house. Funny but all fireworks are illegal in Lancaster and on July 4 it looks like Baghdad during the Shock and Awe assault. You’d think with all the money spent on the Eye in the Sky they’d be able to catch the people using illegal fireworks.
John Doe says
It’s pretty easy to use legal fireworks in unsafe manners and cause a fire. Yes, if you use legal fireworks safely per the instructions they are generally safe. I’m not arguing the difference between legal and illegal fireworks. All I’m saying is that legal fireworks can cause a fire.
Fact Checker says
Sure John Doe. Legal firecrackers can start a fire if misused. So can gas barbecues, charcoal barbecues, matches, cigarettes, curling irons, lightning, birds that get fried on power lines, electrical cords, electrical appliances, and hundreds of other things. But year after year after year NO fires are started by LEGAL fireworks. The problem is ILLEGAL fireworks used ILLEGALLY and IMPROPERLY.
RG says
I’m hoping that enforcement will not just be limited to Zone 4. There has been illegal commercial grade stuff blowing up in my neighborhood all week… so far, no responders when reported. We may not be in zone 4, but we are close enough to the foothills that someone should give a rip.