Police remind residents of illegality of all fireworks

Residents within the City of Canyon Lake are being reminded to avoid the use of fireworks leading up to Independence Day by the city and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police service to the city. “We would like to remind our communities that it is illegal to possess, discharge or sell fireworks,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said. ”All fireworks, including some sparklers, are illegal in Riverside County. Every year fireworks cause major damage and tragedies. Fireworks can also cause serious injuries to people, pets and livestock.”

California Fire Marshal approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks are also illegal in the City of Canyon Lake and all unincorporated areas of Riverside County.

“The city wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July,” Canyon Lake City Manager Chris Mann said. “We’d like to remind residents that setting off fireworks is not only illegal because of personal injury risk, but also because it poses a very real threat to our community as we are in an area susceptible to wildfires. We encourage Canyon Lakers to abide by the law, stay safe and enjoy the professional fireworks display that will be put on by the POA.”

During the weeks leading to Independence Day, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire will have additional patrol personnel throughout the city and county and will be enforcing violations for any person caught with fireworks. Violators of Firework Laws will be prosecuted and are subject to confiscation of fireworks, arrest, citation, and/or fines. A combination of fines for the use of illegal fireworks can cost up to $3,500.

The city’s ordinance, which has been in place since 2007, prohibits fireworks of any kind. Sparklers more than 10 inches in length or more than a quarter inch in diameter are included in the ordinance. Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in county jail for up to one year, or both fine and imprisonment.

“Public safety is one of the city’s most important responsibilities,” Chris said. “Therefore, in addition to increased City Code Enforcement and POA Community Patrol staffing, the city and the POA are working together to cover the costs of additional Sheriff’s Deputies to patrol the city over the 4th of July weekend.”

The city fireworks ordinance specifically says, “No person shall have in his possession, or keep, store, use, shoot, discharge, set-off, ignite, explode, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, give, or transport any Fireworks, Dangerous Fireworks, or Safe and Sane Fireworks…”

Riverside County has very diverse terrain with dry vegetation where fireworks can easily become a major threat to the community, the Sheriff Department said.

“Individuals who cause fires by using illegal fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs,” Sheriff Bianco said. “These costs can run up to millions of dollars.”

Anyone observing the illegal use of fireworks is urged by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to immediately call its dispatch at 951-776-1099. For all immediate threats to life or property, of course, individuals should always dial 911.

“It’s also very important to know that celebratory gunfire is not only unsafe, it is against the law,” Sheriff Bianco said. “Discharging a firearm into the air is a crime and can lead to criminal charges under California state law. Bullets fired into the air return to the ground at a high rate of speed and can kill or cause serious injury.”