July 4th Events
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Fontana, Calif. – All it takes is one spark to cause major injury or start a wildfire, which is why the City of Fontana’s Police Department in collaboration with the San Bernardino County Fire Department is working to prevent the use of illegal fireworks in Fontana through an educational and outreach campaign beginning June 5, 2018 to July 5, 2018. New this year, due to high fire hazards, all fireworks (including Safe and Sane) are prohibited north of Summit Avenue. To find out if you live in Fontana’s high fire hazard area, where all fireworks are prohibited, visit the City of Fontana’s fireworks information web page www.fontana.org/fireworks to view the boundary map.
While Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed within the majority of Fontana’s city limits, all fireworks including Safe and Sane are prohibited in Fontana’s high fire hazard areas. Per municipal code section 15-616, property in the city north of Summit Avenue, west of I-15 and east of Lytle Creek Road is deemed a high fire hazard area.
The Fontana Police Department is strictly enforcing fireworks-related violations. Fines for possession and use of illegal fireworks range from $2,500 to $10,000.
“Although the ordinance prohibiting all fireworks north of Summit Avenue has been on the books since 2009, due to the devastation that wildfires caused California in 2017 and already this year, the Fontana Police Department will be heavily enforcing fireworks-related offenses,” says Fontana PD PIO Sgt. Kevin Goltara. “Since March, we’ve received and responded to dozens of calls for illegal fireworks.
The Say No to Illegal Fireworks Awareness and Enforcement Campaign will include a series of fire and law enforcement operations to stop attempts towards the use, sale and possession of illegal fireworks. The campaign will also include public service announcements, digital billboard ads on the 10 and 210 Freeways, social media posts and banners throughout the community reminding the public that only Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed in Fontana south of Summit Avenue and that all fireworks are prohibited in the high fire hazard area north of Summit Avenue.
In 2017, San Bernardino County Fire Department Office of the Fire Marshal, in cooperation with law enforcement, seized approximately 40,000 lbs of illegal fireworks in the county. “Since May, we have already seized more than 14,000 lbs including two large loads that were on their way to Fontana” shares Fire Marshal Mike Horton.
Residents who plan on purchasing fireworks are encouraged to purchase Safe and Sane fireworks. These fireworks may be discharged in Fontana’s city limits south of Summit Avenue between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. from Thursday, June 28 to Thursday, July 5.
“The temporary satisfaction you might get from igniting illegal fireworks will not offset the pain of paying fines up to $10,000. Don’t take the chance!,” states Chief William Green. “Don’t be unsafe and insane to use anything other than Safe and Sane Fireworks if you live south of Summit Avenue.”
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Safety is the top priority for the City of Fontana. We strive to keep our residents and their properties safe. Illegal fireworks are not worth the risk of expensive fines and hospital bills, so please celebrate responsibly,” urges Mayor Acquanetta Warren.
To report the use of illegal fireworks, call the Fontana Police Department at (909) 350-7700 or WeTip hotline at 1-800-47-Arson.
For more information about the use of fireworks visit www.fontana.org/fireworks or call the Fireworks Information line at (909) 356-7101.
