Time for a Ban on Fireworks

The needless fires and property damage caused by fireworks began early this year and have continued past the July 4 weekend.

On March 31 youngsters playing with fireworks bought in Mexico set fire to an apartment building roof in Anaheim. On May 28 a house in Huntington Beach was damaged when fireworks ignited its shake roof. And last Tuesday in Irvine a $175,000 vacant home was destroyed and three other nearby occupied houses were damaged in a fire caused by fireworks.

The full extent of fireworks-related fires during this last Fourth of July weekend is still being tallied (last year they caused 164 fires). But fireworks--legal and illegal--in the hands of youngsters caused at least four major house fires in the county last weekend. Only quick action by firefighters and alert neighbors with water hoses prevented other major losses.

And there were serious injuries. One little girl in Santa Ana suffered second- and third-degree burns when her dress caught fire, and another received a third-degree burn on her leg from a supposedly “safe and sane” firework.

The blessing is that there were not more injuries and fire losses. The frustration is that the fires and injuries that did occur could have been avoided if more people took the advice of firefighting officials and limited their fireworks to one of the 20 fireworks shows supervised by professionals that were held throughout the county.

Fireworks have been banned in 11 Orange County cities. But they are still permissible in 15 others and in the county’s unincorporated area. Until all fireworks--except those used by professionals in public displays--are banned throughout the county, it will remain difficult to control their sale and use and reduce the needless loss and suffering they cause.

Councilwoman Patricia McGuigan in Santa Ana realizes that. And because she believes a unified effort is needed, and agrees with the League of California Cities’ position against fireworks, McGuigan on Tuesday night asked for a ban on all fireworks in Santa Ana. Her request is being studied by the council’s Public Safety Committee.

More city councils and the county Board of Supervisors ought to join Santa Ana and follow the lead of the cities that already ban fireworks. The county was relatively lucky this year. There were no deaths. But burned-out homes and third-degree burns suffered by little girls is no way to celebrate July 4.