Fire Concerns Over Fireworks

San Andreas – Cal Fire is warning Mother Lode residents not to get burnt celebrating the 4^th of July. The very dry conditions have already fueled more fires than normal for this time of year.

Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Josh White encourages you leave the fireworks to the professionals. “Taking into consideration the extremely dry conditions within our region rather than using your own fireworks, plan on attending one or more of the excellent professionally produced public firework displays in our area,” says White.

Here is Cal Fire’s list of illegal places to use fireworks:

• Tuolumne County – all areas including the City of Sonora
• Calaveras County – In the Ebbetts Pass Fire District
• All federal lands in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, including the Stanislaus National Forest; and along any State highway rights-of-ways

Cal Fire reports it has a zero tolerance stand regarding illegal fireworks. Anyone caught with them face misdemeanor up to felony charges plus the cost to put out a fire.

Illegal fireworks in the State include those that explode, leave the ground, or move about uncontrollably. Some examples are sky rockets, bottle rockets, and roman candles.

Legal fireworks include a “Safe and Sane” logo on the packaging. However, Cal Fire cautions some illegal fireworks, especially one from other countries, may have a forged “Safe and Sane” logo on them. To be sure your fireworks are legal call your local fire station.