Don’t Greet 2000 With Fireworks

* The Stanton City Council, in what could become a precedent for other Orange County cities, has decided to add to millennium festivities by allowing so-called “safe and sane” fireworks during the final few days of 1999.

This is permitted by special state legislation. However, the Orange County fire chiefs believe this is a shortsighted decision that runs the risk of trading a small amount of fun for a large amount of heartache and agony.

The end of the century is surely an exciting time, and it is not our purpose to throw a wet blanket on the occasion. But we would not be fulfilling our obligation to maintain public safety if we did not try to thwart a mass movement to sanction the private use of fireworks.

Experience shows that wherever fireworks use is allowed by those who are not professionals, injuries and property loss result. Only five Orange County cities, including Stanton, still allow “safe and sane” fireworks during the Fourth of July period. Of course, other illegal fireworks such as firecrackers and bottle rockets turn up around the county.

During this past Fourth of July, 10 persons, nearly all of them children, were injured badly enough to be taken to area hospitals, and more than $180,000 in property damage occurred.

The current fear of the fire chiefs is that more cities will be swept up by the enthusiasm over the turning of the century and will allow fireworks activities. This could produce widespread problems for fire, medical aid, and law enforcement officials.

Unlike the Fourth of July, the turn of the century is on New Year’s Eve, which is an extremely busy time for emergency service providers under the best of circumstances. It will be even more chaotic this year. People will be drinking alcohol, and despite our best educational efforts, some of those same people will be driving. Add fireworks to that mix, and it’s a potential disaster.

MARC MARTIN

Santa Ana fire chief

President,

Orange County Fire Chiefs Assn.