Fireworks Display Sure Was a Sham but Also Was No Joke

Illegal fireworks burned a girl’s dress and started a roof blaze in Anaheim Tuesday, less than a week before the Fourth of July.

A firefighter stood by to douse the flames, while more than a dozen fire trucks lined up nearby. The flames consumed the girl’s dress in a few seconds.

But nobody was hurt. The dress was on a mannequin. Tuesday’s fire was staged by the Orange County Fire Chief’s Assn. to demonstrate the dangers of fireworks.

The group had refused to appear at Monday’s press conference called by representatives of three fireworks companies who advocated use of “safe and sane” products approved by the state fire marshal. Fire officials said their appearance would give the wrong impression.

‘Safe and Sane’ Called Myth

“I don’t believe there are ‘safe and sane’ fireworks,” said Fountain Valley Fire Chief Richard E. Jorgensen, president of the chiefs association.

He said the association supports city-sponsored fireworks shows only.

Last year fireworks caused more than $350,000 in property damage in the county and were responsible for at least 10 injuries, Jorgensen said.

Of the 116 fireworks-related blazes last year, 37 involved “safe and sane” fireworks, 23 were the result of illegal fireworks and 56 were unable to be classified, the association said.

Jorgensen said the temperature of the tip of a sparkler, which is often said to be one of the safer fireworks, is about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. And, he added, “we put that in the hand of a child.”

To illustrate the temperature, a firefighter lit a dress being worn by a mannequin resembling a girl. The human replica was immediately engulfed in flames.

In another demonstration, a firefighter lodged two bottle rockets under the brittle, dry shakes of a section of roof and ignited them, causing the panels to smoke and burn.

A firefighter then taped a large firecracker, described as an M-80, to the palm of the mannequin’s hand and exploded it, blowing some fingers off the dummy.

During the display, Jorgensen related an incident in which his niece was nearly hurt by fireworks, acknowledging that his family has used them in the past but no longer does.

In addition to hurting people and starting fires, fireworks have ruined some families’ Independence Day celebrations, Jorgensen said, because they were afraid that their house could catch fire at any time.

“They felt they were being held hostage in their home,” he said. “They wanted to celebrate our democracy, (but) they felt they weren’t allowed that freedom because other people were using fireworks (and endangering their homes).”

Fire departments in county cities that allow the sale and discharge of “safe and sane” fireworks--Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster--will be on alert this weekend.

“We are anticipating several fires as a result of fireworks,” said Glen Hines, Westminster’s fire marshal. “There’s a great possibility of roof fires. That’s our biggest fear.”

Bottle Rockets Targeted

Most roof fires are caused by bottle rockets, officials said, which are outlawed in California. Other illegal fireworks include firecrackers, cherry bombs, skyrockets, M-80s and Roman candles--in fact, anything that explodes, rises in the air or discharges balls of fire. Use of illegal fireworks, which do not bear the state fire marshal’s seal, is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

A pamphlet produced and paid for by fireworks companies and distributed by some fire departments in the county cited these safety rules for use of “safe and sane” materials in the eight county cities where that is permitted:

- Keep a garden hose handy.

- Put used fireworks in a bucket of water.

- Discard used fireworks later in a metal trash can.

- Keep fireworks areas free of debris that can catch on fire.

- Never throw fireworks at people.

To place an anonymous report of a person using or selling illegal fireworks, call 1 (800) 47-ARSON.

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS SHOWS

Anaheim

Where: Anaheim Stadium, 200 State College Blvd.

Information: (714) 999-8900

Dana Point

Where: Heritage Park, end of Old Golden Lantern

Information: (714) 643-0779

Fountain Valley

Where: Mile Square Park, Brookhurst Street and Heil Avenue

Information: (714) 962-4441

Huntington Beach

Where: Huntington Beach High School stadium, Main Street and Yorktown Avenue

Information: (714) 960-8899

Irvine

Where: Irvine High School stadium, 4321 Walnut Ave.

Information: (714) 786-7741

La Palma

Where: Central Park, 7822 Walker St.

Information: (714) 522-6740

Laguna Beach

Where: North Main Beach, Coast Highway and Broadway

Information: (714) 497-3331

Laguna Hills

Where: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive

Information: (714) 855- 8095

Laguna Niguel

Where: Crown Valley Community Park, 29831 Crown Valley Parkway

Information: (714) 831-9622

Los Alamitos

Where: Armed Forces Reserve Center, Katella Avenue at Lexington Drive

Information: (714) 827-8670

Mission Viejo

Where: North end of Lake Mission Viejo

Information: (714) 770-1313

Newport Beach

Where: Newport Dunes Aquatic Park, 1131 Back Bay Drive

Information: (714) 644-0510

Orange

Where: Fred Kelly Stadium, El Modena High School, 3920 Spring St.

Information: (714) 538-3581

Where: Salem Park, Orange Park Boulevard and Santiago Canyon Road (ground display only)

Information: (714) 538-9633

Placentia

Where: Bradford Stadium, Valencia High School, Bradford and Madison avenues

Information: (714) 993-8232

San Clemente

Where: San Clemente Pier, Avenida Del Mar

Information: (714) 361-8200

San Juan Capistrano

Where: Marco Forster Junior High School, 25601 Camino del Avion

Information: (714) 493-5911

Santa Ana

Where: Eddie West Stadium, Civic Center Drive and Flower Street

Information: (714) 962-4441

Tustin

Where: Tustin High School Stadium, 1171 Laguna Road

Information: (714) 544-8890, Ext. 220

Further details regarding Fourth of July activities and a map locating them can be found on the Clipboard page of Orange County Life in Friday’s edition of The Times.