Fizzling Fireworks : Fillmore: Booths in the only county city to allow ‘safe and sane’ devices say business is slow, perhaps because of recent blazes.

The sales of fireworks in Fillmore were reportedly far below normal on Tuesday, the day before the Fourth of July.

Some of the fireworks booths that line California 126 were abandoned at midday. Workers at others said their sales were just limping along.

George Kutbach, president of the Fillmore Jaycees, said he began the day at 6 a.m. trying to drum up business by waving a large American flag at motorists and truck drivers.

“Nobody wants to be stuck with all these fireworks,” Kutbach said. Workers at several of the 19 booths lining California 126 said sales had fallen by 10% to 25% contrasted with last year’s. The service clubs that sell the fireworks have previously reported earning $10,000 to $40,000 during the week of legal sales.

Dorothy Haase, fireworks chairwoman for the Fillmore Historical Society, said sales were among the slowest in a long time, down by as much as a third for her group.

“I think the Santa Barbara and the Glendale fires have had some impacts,” Haase said. “Although they weren’t caused by fireworks, I think people are more aware.”

Other workers said the midweek holiday means fewer travelers were passing through Fillmore just before the Fourth.

Fillmore permits the sale by nonprofit groups and the use of so-called “safe and sane” fireworks. It is the only Ventura County city to do so.

Safe and sane fireworks, by definition, sparkle and whistle but do not leave the ground.

Despite the name, firefighters say the fireworks are not entirely safe. Last year, the devices were blamed for 14 of 29 fires between June 17 and July 17 in Ventura County, fire officials said.

Although service clubs bemoaned the drop in business, one county fire official said it may lighten today’s workload for firefighters.

“Whatever the reason is, fireworks sales are down, and we’re pleased,” said Deputy Chief Bob Holaway of the Ventura County Fire Department.

“It’s a good thing for the citizens if sales are down. It means that there are going to be that much fewer fireworks out there.”

Fillmore Fire Chief Pat Askren attributed the drop to a Fire Department campaign focusing on the hazard fireworks pose to the drought-parched hills of Ventura County.

Askren said he has also made an attempt this year to crack down on people who purchase or parents who allow their children to possess illegal fireworks.

Truck driver Richard Cox, 31, of Tracy stopped to buy $11 worth of fireworks in Fillmore while hauling aluminum to Valencia. Cox said hillsides in the San Joaquin Valley county where he lives are as dry and vulnerable to fire as those around Ventura County.

“Down here, things are so dry it surprises me that they’re still selling fireworks,” Cox said. “I’m buying them because we don’t have them up there.”

Alfonso Cardenas, 24, of Oxnard said he plans to have a large July Fourth gathering during which relatives will light the $70 worth of fireworks his family chipped in to buy.

“The intention is not to harm anybody,” Cardenas said. However, the ban on fireworks in his home city did not deter him from buying.

“If it’s illegal, it’s illegal,” Cardenas said. “I guess I’ll go to jail.”

ALERT

Police and fire officials are conducting stepped-up patrols looking for people using illegal fireworks. B3