Public safety ramps up staff in preparation for upcoming Fourth of July weekend

This time last year, cities were scrambling to close their beaches in response to a summer surge of COVID-19 cases.

Laguna Beach was the first to close its city beaches to avoid groups a place to gather. Newport Beach closed its beaches after two lifeguards tested positive for COVID-19. Huntington Beach swiftly followed suit, out of concern the city would be inundated if it had the only beach open for the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, cities farther inland like Costa Mesa refused to issue block-party permits and, at the time, reduced the days allowed for sale of safe and sane fireworks from five to three. Fountain Valley offered preferential permit parking to control parking overflow.

With the state’s reopening of its local economy on June 15, local public safety officials are expecting unprecedented crowds on the beaches and in the streets this upcoming Fourth of July weekend even as health officials in nearby Los Angeles County caution residents to wear masks indoors again out of fears of the Delta variant.

Cases have ticked up this week in Orange County, but hospitalizations remain relatively low. There have been 256,317 cases and 5,121 deaths of COVID-19 to-date countywide.

Brett Shafer, left, from Sacramento throws a ball for his dog chocolate Lab, Bernadette, center, and her dog friends at the Huntington Dog Beach on June 30, 2020.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

Mike Halphide, Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard has noticed an uptick in the beach-going public and he senses this holiday weekend will bring throngs to the sands.

“My intuition is based on what we’ve seen over the last few months. Any day [the weather’s] been nice, people have been coming early and staying late,” Halphide said.

“We expect well above average crowds for the holiday weekend,” said Halphide, adding that he expects there to be more than 100,000 visitors. A normal year, he said, usually sees over 75,000.

“Last year, our beaches were closed, as most people remember. We’ve just seen big crowds any time it’s nice weather. There’s supposed to be good surf. We’re expecting 4- to 6-foot waves,” he said, adding that the city is typically a magnet for holiday beach activity.

Lifeguards out in Laguna Beach also indicated similar concerns, even preparing a public service announcement online to remind both residents and visitors to stay hydrated and to stay well within sight of lifeguard towers while swimming in the ocean.

Beach-goers climb a sand berm that was rebuilt by the city to hold off big waves and high tides at Balboa Pier in Newport Beach in July 2020. Last Fourth of July, Balboa Island flooded.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Local police departments said they plan on being fully staffed this weekend and that residents and visitors should expect to see more officers than usual on patrol.

“Like everyone, all of us at the [Huntington Beach Police Department] are looking forward to a safe, fun and eventful Fourth of July holiday in Huntington Beach,” said Huntington Beach Police Chief Julian Harvey in a statement. “We encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the numerous events happening throughout the city, but want to remind everyone to celebrate responsibly.”

Newport Beach police also plan to have extra patrols and assistance from hired outside agencies, according to spokeswoman Heather Rangel. In Costa Mesa, officials are working to educate residents ahead of time through social media and other means to stress the dangers of and enforcement against illegal fireworks.

Laguna Beach is collaborating with county public safety departments and will be enforcing the prohibition of fireworks — including sane and safe fireworks, as much of the city is designated as being located in a very high fire hazard severity zone by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Halphide said that although the upcoming holiday weekend could be problematic for lifeguards, police and local fire departments, he felt that the preparations marked a point of return to normalcy from the pandemic.

The cruiser Ry La Cade flies a boat sized American Flag during a run to the Newport Harbor entrance on the Fourth of July in 2020.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Many celebrations that were canceled last year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis have returned this year, including the Laguna Beach fireworks show. Huntington Beach expanded their celebrations this year to create a pier festival and modified their traditional parade for the second year in a row.

“More people are getting vaccinated and we’re getting near herd immunity,” said Halphide. “We’re in so much better of a place than we were last year. As a lifeguard, it’s a much better time even though it requires more work from our staff.”

“We’re just in a better place overall,” he added.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.