FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — As fireworks stands open across the Central Valley this weekend, fire officials throughout Fresno County are urging residents to think twice before lighting illegal fireworks, warning that a few moments of celebration can quickly turn into disaster.
Officials from Fresno Fire, Fresno County Fire, Clovis Fire, North Central Fire Protection District, and Valley Children’s Hospital came together Friday to deliver a message: Leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Authorities say illegal fireworks continue to pose a serious threat every Fourth of July, leading to fires, injuries, criminal charges, and poor air quality throughout the valley.
“This year alone, we’ve already confiscated a significant number of illegal fireworks,” officials said, pointing to the growing concern ahead of Independence Day.
“The sky is just lit up with aerial fireworks, and the amount of calls that we respond to on the Fourth of July that are associated with fireworks is just incredible,” said Fresno Fire Department PIO, Josh Sellers.
Possessing illegal fireworks can carry steep consequences. Depending on the circumstances, violators could face misdemeanor or felony charges. Fresno County Fire Chief Dustin Hale said the legal penalties can become even more severe if someone is injured.
“If you are in possession of these and somebody gets hurt, those are additional criminal charges that can be added to it,” Hale said.
Beyond the legal risks, doctors say fireworks can cause life-changing injuries, especially among children.
“One of the most common injuries that we’re seeing are burns to the hands and injuries to the face,” said Dr. Hailey Nelson, a pediatrician with Valley Children’s Hospital.
Fire officials say they witness these preventable tragedies every year, which is why they continue emphasizing public education before the holiday.
“We see it every year. That’s why we try to stay proactive and be present with public education, because it does happen way too often,” Hale said.
Last year’s Fourth of July holiday kept firefighters busy responding to nearly 200 fires across Fresno County and the City of Fresno. Those incidents included house fires, grass fires, freeway fires, and other emergency calls sparked by fireworks.
“If you do the math on that, it is responding to a fire about every five and a half minutes,” Sellers said. “That is very taxing on our resources. Fire engines and firefighters are traveling across the city nonstop for 12 hours, battling fires that don’t have to be.”
Health experts also warn that smoke from fireworks contributes to poor air quality by trapping pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, creating additional health concerns for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
For those choosing to use legal “Safe and Sane” fireworks, burn specialists recommend keeping a bucket of water or hose nearby, maintaining at least 10 feet of distance while lighting fireworks, and closely supervising children at all times.
Officials hope residents will choose safer ways to celebrate this Independence Day by attending professional fireworks displays instead of risking injuries, fires, and criminal penalties with illegal fireworks.
