Agenda Item Wording:
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Receive the 2023 4th of July Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Detail report presented by the Visalia Fire Department.
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Deadline for Action: 8/7/2023
Submitting Department: Fire Department
Contact Name and Phone Number: Corbin Reed, 559-713-4272
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends Council receive the 2023 Illegal Fireworks Education and Enforcement Detail Report.
Background Discussion:
This report provides City Council with a summary of events and activities conducted throughout the City of Visalia pertaining to the 2023 Illegal Fireworks Education and Enforcement Detail.
Beginning on June 29th, local non-profit fireworks booths were permitted to open and begin selling safe and sane fireworks. For many of these organizations, fireworks sales comprise most of their funding to sustain operations throughout the year. Fireworks booths are inspected prior to opening and are only permitted to sell safe and sane fireworks. The number of permitted safe and sane fireworks booths is set by City ordinance and based on population. This year, 27 safe and sane fireworks booths were permitted in the City of Visalia. Safe and sane fireworks are relatively quiet, non-disruptive, and typically enjoyed by families until about 10:00 pm. Fountains, sparklers, smoke balls, and ground blossom flowers comprise the majority of safe and sane fireworks used throughout the community. These are very distinct and different from the illegal fireworks that create the danger and angst in the community.
In the weeks leading up to the 4th of July, the Visalia Fire Department proactively hung approximately 2,000 informational door hangers in targeted neighborhoods. These door hangers provided the public with information compiled from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) intended to deter the purchase and use of illegal dangerous fireworks, the reporting number for the Illegal Fireworks...
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