Anaheim Puts Fireworks Ban on November Ballot

Less than two weeks after a disastrous, fireworks-related blaze, the Anaheim City Council decided Tuesday to put before the voters in November a measure to ban the use of all fireworks.

It was a personal victory for Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood, who has waged several council campaigns over the years to have the matter placed on the ballot. Councilman Lew Overholt, who until recently opposed any ban on “safe-and-sane” fireworks, said he changed his mind after the July 3 fire at an Anaheim apartment complex that caused $2.2 million damage.

Several who spoke at the afternoon public hearing in support of the ban mentioned the blaze at the Casa de Valencia apartments, which left dozens homeless after a fast-spreading blaze gutted about 40 units and damaged 30 more.

Illegal Devices Caused Fire

Those opposed to the measure pointed out that it was illegal--and not the legal or safe--fireworks devices that caused the fire. A report released by city fire officials last week said the blaze spread from an illegal bottle rocket landing on a wood-shingle roof. Police and fire officials found both illegal and legal fireworks that had been altered in an area near the fire scene.

“Safe-and-sane (fireworks) frankly are not very exciting. . . . What makes them exciting is when you alter them and they go up in the air,” Fire Chief Bob Simpson told the council and about 100 people attending the afternoon public hearing.

Simpson cited a report by the state Fire Chief’s Assn. and state Firemen’s Assn. that favored banning all fireworks. Simpson also said studies show that 30% of all fireworks-related injuries are caused by sparklers, a legal, often hand-held device.

Opponents of the measure maintained that a ban on currently legal fireworks would instead encourage black-market sales of the more dangerous illegal ones.

Even if a majority of residents vote on Nov. 4 to ban all fireworks, such a law would not affect professional pyrotechnic displays such as the nightly fireworks displays at Disneyland.