After a home exploded because of illegal fireworks three years ago, recent busts in the Inland Empire show that the problem isn’t going away. 

“This season we have had two fires attributed to fireworks.” Sue Jones with the city of Victorville warned, saying that fireworks can cause fires to spread rapidly.

Recently in San Bernardino, a large supply of aerial fireworks was found by police during a traffic stop. As the driver had an expired registration and suspended license, police impounded the car and seized all the fireworks. 

“The two involved subjects were issued citations. We hope this serves as a reminder that illegal fireworks sales are not permitted in the city.” San Bernardino Police said.

Earlier this month, about 160 pounds of illegal fireworks was discovered while the Victorville Police Department was serving a search warrant on Fuschia Lane. The illegal fireworks were for sale since the boxes had price tags, according to the police.

All fireworks have been illegal in Victorville since 2019, and the penalties can be up to several thousand dollars. 

The ordinance, that bans all fireworks, is accompanied by a $1,000 fine for first violation. It increases to $3,000 for the second and $5,000 for the third violation. 

Back in March 2021, homes near Bonita Avenue and Francis Street exploded due to illegal fireworks, killing two people and damaging several other homes in the area.

“I was frightened. It was so loud. All the neighbors were out, and we were frightened.” said Wood, a resident of the Inland Empire.

“Damage to the house – kitchen cabinets, countertop, fireplace. They came about a quarter inch off the wall. Bedroom ceiling cracked in half and nearly came down,” Wood recalled.

According to San Bernardino County, “safe and sane” fireworks are only allowed in Adelanto, Chino, Colton, Needles, and Rialto, as well as specific locations in Fontana, Grand Terrace, and San Bernardino. San Bernardino only allows “safe and sane” fireworks in areas south of the 210 Freeway. All fireworks are illegal elsewhere in the county.

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File # Multiple

Details:

Throughout the month of June, leading up to July 4, 2022, members of the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), with the assistance of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Service District Team (SCVCSDT), the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team (SET), and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hazardous Device Team (HDT), conducted an operation which targeted the illegal sale of dangerous fireworks. The operation netted a total weight of approximately 1,800 pounds of illegal fireworks and one illegally carried handgun.

The following subjects were arrested and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in the city of Indio:

• Leon Hernandez, 20 of Coachella, for possession of over 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks, and sale and transportation of dangerous fireworks.
• Eulises Cardenas, 35 of Indio, for of possession of over 1000 pounds of dangerous fireworks, and sale and transportation of dangerous fireworks.
• Xavier Gutierrez, 21 of Coachella, for possession of a concealed firearm, possession of high-capacity magazines, possession of over 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks, and sale and transportation of dangerous fireworks.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Nevins or Deputy Molina with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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On July 3, 2021, at 11:13 pm, the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team, were enforcing illegal firework enforcement on the 87000 block of Center St. of Thermal.  Five large aerial fireworks, a loaded handgun and illegal narcotics were confiscated. Vincent Adrian Villegas, 27yrs of Thermal was arrested for possession of a loaded handgun and an active felony warrant.

Villegas was booked into John Benoit Detention Center.

All fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal in Riverside County. All fireworks are illegal because they cause injuries and very often, cause fires. Riverside County has very diverse terrain.

The vegetation is very dry where fireworks can easily start a brush fire. Individuals who cause fires by illegal fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs.

Those costs can run into the millions of dollars.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California official is seeking federal help in stopping an influx of illegal fireworks that has fueled use of skyrockets and firecrackers well beyond July 4 and led to the deadly explosion of a cache in the middle of a neighborhood this year.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger outlined the concerns in letters to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, her office said Tuesday.

The letters emphasized the potential for wildfires in drought-stricken California.

“Because illegal fireworks are smuggled from outside California, our federal partners are in a unique position to help local jurisdictions combat the influx of fireworks contraband,” Barger said in a statement.

Use of illegal fireworks has surged beyond the Fourth of July. Celebrations of sports championships unleash barrages of aerial shells, and fireworks are set off for just about any kind of celebration any time of year.

On March 16, an illegal stockpile of fireworks blew up in the city of Ontario, east of Los Angeles, killing two men and forcing evacuation of a wide area so that unexploded items could be gathered and destroyed.

California law allows so-called “Safe & Sane” fireworks, but many local jurisdictions ban them and urge residents to report any they see.

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