Public safety agencies watching out for fireworks

BARSTOW • Barstow’s public safety agencies want you to just say no to fireworks.

Fireworks of all kinds, including safe and sane fireworks, are illegal in the Barstow area, according to Det. Darin Lansdown of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Barstow station. Lansdown said the sheriff’s department will be looking out for and responding to calls relating to fireworks in the weeks leading up to Independence Day. Possession of most fireworks is considered a misdemeanor, but possession of larger fireworks is a felony, according to Lansdown.

“In most cases we’ll just be giving out citations,” Lansdown said. “If there are drunk people out lighting off fireworks, there’s a good chance we’ll arrest them for drunk in public. Hopefully that will stop them and other people from lighting them off and hurting themselves.”

Barstow Fire Department Division Chief Sal Corrao said the department doesn’t respond to calls about fireworks without backup from the police or sheriff’s departments because of incidents with drunk citizens in recent years. However, the department does respond to emergencies and reports of fires caused by fireworks.

Corrao said fireworks can often get out of control and set fire to vegetation or a structure. A man lighting a Roman candle caught a garage on fire on the 29000 block of Coochise Avenue on July 4 last year. The fire caused $10,000 in damage.

Fireworks also cause injuries every year, according to Corrao.

“If you aren’t careful you can lose fingers if a firecracker goes off in your hand,” Corrao said. “Sometimes people will be lighting a bottle rocket and the sparks will get in their eyes and blind them.”

Corrao recommends that people who want to see fireworks go to public fireworks displays. The Newberry Springs Community Service District’s Independence Day celebration will be held at 9 p.m. on July 3 at the Community Service Building at 30884 Newberry Road. Barstow will also host a fireworks display at 9 p.m. on July 4 at the Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark.

The Barstow Police Department did not return phone calls regarding fireworks laws and enforcement.