Booming Business : Fillmore Groups Expect to Gross $100,000 in Fireworks Sales

Fire Chief Pat Askren had an odd task Friday--provide permits to more than two dozen vendors who sell flammable materials to the public in the middle of fire season.

It’s a tradition that burns strongly in this city of about 12,000 people.

Fillmore is the lone Ventura County city to permit the sale and use of fireworks in the week leading to July 4, and its independent streak is a financial bonanza.

During the next six days the nonprofit groups that operate the booths will gross about $100,000 for their causes, with most of the money coming from non-Fillmore residents traveling along California 126.

On July 4, the population doubles as people descend on the town to ignite fireworks that are illegal in almost every other place, Askren said.

“People think fireworks are a God-given right,” he said. “My counterpart before me went to the City Council and said, ‘We want the sale of fireworks stopped’ and they laughed at him.”

At precisely noon on Friday, the vendors at 26 temporary stands swung open their shutters and began selling products with such colorful monikers as Lava Cones and Solar Flares to people with money to burn.

“July 4 is fireworks. It’s always been fireworks,” said Louie Ramos, 60, of Ventura, who bought a $14 assortment for his four grandchildren 20 minutes after the American Youth Soccer Organization booth opened.

Although Fillmore encourages patrons to return to the city on Independence Day to legally enjoy their purchases, Askren knows most do not.

Fillmore’s policy causes sparks to fly among Askren’s county counterparts, who each year must deal with fires started by fireworks.

“Do we cause problems in the rest of the county?” Askren asked. “More than likely we do . . . I don’t work for the rest of the county. I work for a city council that says fireworks are legal.”

Fillmore sells only “safe and sane” labeled fireworks--no bottle rockets, firecrackers or “sparklers” that youngsters can inadvertently plunge into other children’s eyes. Askren isn’t sure whether the fireworks sold in Fillmore actually are “safe and sane.” But the alternative is potentially worse, he said, comparing a fireworks ban to alcohol prohibition.

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Four out of five fires caused by fireworks in Fillmore are the result of illegal fireworks, Askren said.

Regulations regarding the sale of products that are allowed are tough. Purchasers must be at least 16 years old, booth workers 18. Wire mesh restricts customer access, buckets of water stand ready to douse fires at booth doors. Security guards patrol at night to prevent break-ins, and Askren does the same during the day to ensure vendors observe the rules.

Organizations that sell fireworks are generally regarded as pillars of the community.

Rotary Club member Gregg Tutor said he can easily justify why his group has a booth.

“Money,” he said, but adds, “If I didn’t feel it was safe for the general public, I wouldn’t do it. Rotary wouldn’t do it.”

Last year the Rotarians netted $15,000 on their fireworks sales, money that went to support student scholarships and other community programs, Tutor said.

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Still, Tutor is surprised at how casually people are willing to open their wallets for such aptly named assortments as The Big One, a giant $200 package of fireworks.

“There are people who drive up, point to that and say, ‘Give me two,’ ” he said.

Money is the reason the AYSO opened a booth for the first time this year. Regional soccer commissioner Dave Pele, 48, said the group lost $2,000 when it tried to sell candy bars and decided to switch to fireworks.

“If we make $10,000, I’ll be happy,” he said. “That will buy goal posts and uniforms.”

Even Askren’s Rotary Club staffs a booth. And vendors are frankly pleased that Fillmore has a monopoly.

“Our community would suffer to a large degree without the sale of fireworks,” Tutor said.

Most purchasers can’t imagine Independence Day without their personal fireworks display either.

“I can imagine it would be pretty bleak,” said Vinnie Juodvalkis, 38, of Santa Clarita as he purchased fireworks for his two children.