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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report Item 6.A 08/18/2003CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA AGENDA BI LE., Agenda Title Discussion and Request For Direction from City ]Meeting Date August 18, 2003 Council Regarding a Proposal to Ban the Sales, Use, and Possession, of all Fireworks in the City of Petaluma. ]Meeting Time ❑ 3:00 PM X 7:00 PM Category (check one) ❑ Consent Calendar X Public Dearing ❑ New Business ❑ Unfinished Business ❑ Presentation Department Fire Director Contact Person ]Phone Number 778 -4365 Chris Al ert Chris Albertson, Fire Chie Fire Chief Cost of Proposal Initial costs are zero. Should the City Council Account Number & Name of subsequently vote to ban fireworks, there will be an estimated cost Fund: Appropriate account of $12,000 for overtime expenses related to the special enforcement numbers from the Police teams for next Fourth of July — 2004 -05 budget and $3,500 for new Department and Fire Department signs and banners and public education materials, informing the for overtime expenditures and 2215 - public that fireworks are banned in the City of Petaluma. 6160 for public education Amount Budgeted banners /signs. Attachments to Agenda Packet Item 1) Draft language that would amend Petaluma Municipal Code Section 17.20.070, sub - section 7802.1. 2) "Fireworks Talking Points ", reviewing the Fire Department's position for a complete ban. 3) Letter from the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association supporting a complete ban on fireworks. 4) Copies of newspaper articles and editorials following a fire ignited by fireworks last June 28 Summary Statement The City Council is being asked to consider the Fire Department's recommendation that the Petaluma Municipal Code be amended to ban the sale and use of all types of fireworks and /or pyrotechnic devices in the City of Petaluma, except those fireworks used in a commercial fireworks display, by a licensed pyrotechnic representative. This proposal will: ® Reduce the potential for fires related to fireworks. The ban on all fireworks, including the safe & sane types, will make the use of existing illegal fireworks less likely. When all fireworks are illegal, the violators are easier to identify. ® Reduce the potential for injuries related to fireworks. By banning all fireworks, the potential for injuries to anyone who misuses fireworks is lessened. Also, with a complete ban the potential to modify safe & sane fireworks, with those increased risks of hazards, is lessened. ® Continue to fund and staff the enforcement /education teams, initiated by Council action in May 2002 and again in 2003. Recommended City Council Action /Suggested Motion That City Council provide direction to Staff, authorizing language to amend the Petaluma Municipal Code, which will ban all fireworks in the City of Petaluma, except those used in a commercial fireworks show, by a licensed pyrotechnic representative. Re ' wed bv Finance Director: Reviewed by City Attorney Date: A rov Cit Manaaer Date: ate- 't oday's Date 7/18/03 Revision # and Date Revised: File Code: � 18 A 2003 A CI'T'Y OF PE'I'ALUMA CALIFORNIA AUGUST 18, 2003 AGENDA REPORT FOR DISCUSSION AND REQUEST FOR DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL, REGARDING A ]PROPOSAL TO BAN THE SALES, USE, AND POSSESSION, OF ALL FIREWORKS IN THE CITY OF PETALUMA. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City Council is being asked to amend Section 17.20.070 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, banning the sale, use, and possession of all types of fireworks, except those fireworks used in a commercial fireworks display, by a licensed pyrotechnic representative. 2. BACKGROUND The sales and use of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday has taken place in Petaluma since the mid 1970's. The City has issued 21 permits for the sales of state approved — a.k.a. "Safe & Sane" fireworks. Seventeen permits are issued to non - profit organizations and four are issued to private vendor /s, grandfathered into the permit process in 1997 as a for profit vendor. State law and the City of Petaluma currently ban "illegal" fireworks — those pyrotechnic devices that fly through the air, move across the ground, or explode. It has been and continues to be the Fire Department's position that all fireworks are inherently dangerous. In May 2002, the City Council adopted the Fire Department's then recommendation to shorten the days and hours for the sales and use of Safe & Sane fireworks. The recommendation also included raising the legal age from 16 to 18, for those persons purchasing and using Safe & Sane fireworks and created a total no- fireworks zone on the western side of the city limits in the high fire severity zone. This year, on June 28`", the first day of legal sale of Safe & Sane fireworks, the City of Santa Rosa suffered a tragic fire that burned 30+ acres, destroyed an upscale home, and required significant firefighting resources from throughout Sonoma County to bring the fire under control. The cause for this fire: Safe & Sane fireworks Over the evening of the Fourth of July holiday, six special enforcement teams wrote 51 citations for the possession of illegal fireworks and the possession of legal fireworks that had been illegally modified. Many of the citations were written to people whose address was outside the City of Petaluma, in areas where all fireworks are currently banned. Non - Petaluma residents came into Petaluma to ignite their fireworks, both safe & sane and illegal. This endangered the community and in many locations they simply left their discards on the ground, and then returned to their homes outside the City. One of the officers in the special fireworks enforcement teams described the general impression of what he saw as "general state of lawlessness and disregard for other people's property ". Certainly there were numerous street parties, many fueled by alcohol. Safe & Sane fireworks were masking the use of the illegal fireworks. Enforcement teams saw it first hand the evening of the Fourth and the evidence was visible the next morning in the trash in the streets, with spent discards from Safe & Sane and illegal fireworks. Did Petaluma suffer a tragic fire this year as they did in Santa Rosa? No. The community should not be subjected to such incidents. A complete ban on all fireworks will significantly reduce that potential. a 3. ALTERNATIVES Maintain the current status quo. The Police and Fire Departments will continue to enforce the current ordinances regarding fireworks. 4. FINANCIAL )IMPACTS Initial costs are zero. There will be an estimated costs of $12,000 for overtime expenses related to the special enforcement teams for next Fourth of July — 2004 -05 budget and $3,500 for new signs, banners, and public education materials, informing the public that fireworks are banned in the City of Petaluma. 5. CONCLUSION Banning fireworks in a community that has historically allowed fireworks is a big step toward improving fire protection for the community. The non - profit organizations that have earned revenues from the sales of fireworks will have to reorganize and rethink their fundraising activities. Other communities support their non -profit organizations without buying fireworks. Petaluma will demonstrate that same support for the local non - profits organizations. The neighborhood activities over the Fourth of July are becoming more raucous. The potential for a fireworks related tragedy increases each year. The level of risk in the City of Petaluma is similar to, or even greater than this year's fire in Santa Rosa. 6. OUTCOMES OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS THAT WILL IDENTIFY SUCCESS OR COMPLETION: A calmer, safer Fourth of July Holiday. The tangible results may not be readily apparent the first year of the ban but there will be incremental improvements each year until the ban becomes the accepted norm. 7. RECOMMENDATION That City Council provide direction to Staff, authorizing language to amend the Petaluma Municipal Code, which will ban all fireworks in the City of Petaluma, except those used in a commercial fireworks show, by a licensed pyrotechnic representative. g: /forms/2003 agenda bill Drat .language that would amend, Petaluma Municipal Code Section 17;20.070: Section 7802.1 "Fireworks is amended to read as follows: `Except as herein after provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks; provided that the Fire Chief shall have power to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the granting of permits for supervised public displays of fireworks by a public agency, fair association, amusement parr or other organization. Every such use or display shall be handled by a competent operator approved by the Fire Chief, and shall be of such character and so located, discharged or fired as in the opinion of the Fire Chief, after proper investigation, so as not to be hazardous to property or endanger any person. " The remaining paragraph of 7802. 1, referring to "safe and sane" fireworks will be eliminated. Section 7802.1.1 — "Fireworks — Conditions of Sales" : paragraphs 1 -11 shall be eliminated. Section 7802.3.1 and Section 7802.3.1.1, shall be eliminated. Fireworks Talking Points by Chris Albertson, Fire Chief— City of Petaluma ® What level of risk is the community willing to accept? Matches can cause fires but fireworks are more hazardous. There is nothing safe or sane about putting pyrotechnic devices in the hands of children or in the hands of adults who are consuming alcohol and significantly increasing the level of hazard. There are a number of ways to celebrate the Fourth of July. Igniting pyrotechnic devices is only one method. Parades, and picnics, and neighborhood gatherings, and of course professional firework displays at the fair grounds, are all typical events to recognize the nation's birthday. Petaluma is in a high fire zone. Over the past Fourth of July, temperatures were pushing triple digits. On the first day for the legal sale of fireworks, a neighboring community suffered a tragic fire loss — ignited by those same Safe & Sane fireworks. Did Petaluma suffer any significant fire loss over the Fourth of July? No. Do we need to suffer a loss — does a tragedy need to occur, before the community accepts the fact that fireworks — all fireworks — are dangerous and need to be banned? It is part of the Fire Department's responsibility to make the community aware of the potential — the real potential for possible fires and injuries due to fireworks. The Fire Department takes this responsibility seriously. In turn, the community decides to follow the department's recommendations or to pursue other alternatives. As with all aspects of fire protection, the community makes a decision about the level of risk they are willing to accept and the real threats to safety associated with that level of risk. Currently, the community acknowledges that illegal fireworks should be banned. It is the Fire Department's position that any benefit obtained through the sale of state approved fireworks, is over shadowed by the real threat to those individuals who ignite fireworks and the overall threat to the safety of the community at large. The existing illegal fireworks and Safe & Sane fireworks should be banned. ® How will the non - profit agencies generate the necessary revenues? The sale of fireworks is lucrative. However, will a ban on the sale of fireworks mean the end of non -profit programs in the city? No! Over 300 communities throughout California ban the sale and use of all fireworks. Do those communities have successful youth sports teams? Yes. Do those communities have youth dance recitals? Yes. Do those communities have successful church' leagues? Yes. The communities that ban fireworks have all the same types of non -profit activities as does the City of Petaluma. The difference is that those communities conduct fund raising throughout the year. Yes, fund raising in these other communities is more time consuming and requires more planning. But, as a rule, these other forms of fund raising do not place their communities at risk of a major fire or potential personal injury. ® Why propose a ban on all fireworks now? Why not wait until next Summer? This year's sale of fireworks over the Fourth of July is completed. Those who benefit financially from the sales of pyrotechnic devices have filled their coffers for this upcoming year. If a ban on the sale of all fireworks was enacted, there remains nearly one year to plan and organize fundraising activities leading into the next fiscal year. ® It is not the "safe and sane" fireworks that cause the problems — it is the illegal fireworks that are already banned that cause the problems. Statistically, this statement is true. Illegal fireworks — those types of fireworks that fly through the air, move across the ground, or explode, are responsible for the majority of fires and injuries suffered by individuals and communities. ® Why doesn't the fire department go after those people using illegal fireworks? We do! This past Fourth of July, six special enforcement teams, made up of one fire department member and one police officer, wrote 51 citations for the illegal possession/use of illegal fireworks — and — the illegal modification of Safe & Sane fireworks. From July 1 St to July 6 the police department and the fire department responded to 275 complaints related to fireworks. Illegal fireworks were being ignited all over the city. The response teams would enter the areas where people were using the state approved fireworks. The state approved fireworks (Safe & Sane) were being used to camouflage the use of illegal pyrotechnic devices. The propensity for the use of illegal fireworks would be reduced if all pyrotechnic devices were banned. ® Would the use of existing illegal fireworks cease if there were a complete ban on all fireworks? No. Communities that ban all fireworks report that fireworks are still being used within their jurisdictions. However, due to the, fact that all fireworks are banned, there is less use of the illegal types of pyrotechnics because the illegal types are not being masked by the use of state approved fireworks. Our special fireworks response teams report that there were virtually no calls for assistance in the High Fire Severity Zone on the West side of town, where all fireworks are currently banned. © What type of fireworks — illegal or safe and sane — were the source of ignition for the grass fare and loss of the home in Santa Rosa? The fire on June 28 was ignited by the use of Safe & Sane fireworks. Was this unusual? Statistically, yes. However, remember that these fireworks are pyrotechnic devices that burn at extremely high temperatures. Sparks from these devices are capable of starting grass fires and inflicting injuries. 2 ® Was this past Fourth of July really a fire safety problem, or is the Fire Department snaking a big issue about nothing? The six special fireworks enforcement teams wrote a total of 51 citations on July 4 This total number could have been twice as high if we had had additional teams. There was more activity than the six teams could address by themselves. The citations were written for possession/using illegal fireworks (PMC 17.20.7802.3.2.2) and possession/using state approved fireworks that have been illegally modified (PMC 17.20.7802.3.2.1). The general impression by those special team members was a "general state of lawlessness and disregard for other people's property". Examples of this included: - An east side street was completely littered with remnants of legal and illegal fireworks. In a crowd of at least 100 people, there were five individuals firing roman candles over the residential roof tops, toward the school property on the back side. On the school property there were people firing roman candles back over the roof tops toward the street. - An enforcement team pulled up on an individual who they had just witnessed igniting a powerful M -80 firecracker. The suspect was holding another M -80 firecracker. The enforcement team told him to put the firecracker down. The suspect lit the firecracker and rolled it under the engine compartment of their unmarked city vehicle, where it exploded. If there had been gasoline fumes present, the explosion could have resulted in serious injuries. The police officer drew her weapon and had the suspect spread eagle on the ground under gunpoint. - There were several situations where older teens were showing younger children how to modify some legal fireworks by taping them together and placing them in plastic liter bottles. These devices can produce tremendous explosive force that can cause damage and/or injuries. - There were numerous cases of people using safe and sane fireworks to mask the use of illegal fireworks. Enforcement teams would observe the use of illegal fireworks and when they pulled down the street, the residents would gather up their illegal items and run inside the residences. - Reviewing the addresses of those people who received citations, you will find that a large percentage of people live outside the City of Petaluma and Sonoma. County. They drive into Petaluma to use the fireworks that the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, Marin County, and Napa County disallow. Because Petaluma permits safe and sane fireworks, it appears that non - residents from outside the city come here to ignite legal and illegal fireworks. ® Doesn't the City of Petaluma currently have ordinances on the books to address these concerns? Last year, the Fire Department recommended changes in the city ordinance that addresses the use of fireworks. The number of days for the sales and use of fireworks was shortened. The legal age to purchase and use fireworks was raised. There was language included to require those people who use the state approved fireworks, to clean up the resultant debris at the end of the 3 evening. All of these revised requirements were publicized in the local media and posted on the individual fireworks sales booths. Even so, this year the enforcement teams found: - unsupervised children under the age of 18 igniting fireworks; - fireworks that were ignited well after the allowable hours; - neighborhoods, where spent firework casings were left as liter on the ground, curb line to curb line; - an increase in the use of illegal fireworks throughout the city; - one sales booth that was selling fireworks well after the permitted hours. In short, there was the appearance of continued irresponsibility by people who live in the city or simply came into the city to ignite their fireworks. ® If the City of Petaluma bans safe and sane fireworks, does that mean that next year the City should not have any- fireworks related problems? No. As mentioned earlier, every community , that bans fireworks still has emergency responses related to fireworks. There are fewer actual emergency responses in cities with a total ban and certainly less potential for a tragedy caused by the use of fireworks. If the City of Petaluma enacts a complete ban on all fireworks effective next year, there will still be enforcement impacts until past habits are slowly ended and the reality that all fireworks are banned in the City becomes the accepted norm. m I remember the fun I had with fireworks when I was a child. I want to provide those same experiences for my children. Yes, there are many people who remember using fireworks as a child. Most likely, "safe & sane" was not even a real term then. What we need to acknowledge, is that it is a different world today. There are twice as many people living in California today, as there were 50 years ago. There are homes pressed into the brush and wildland areas, where the chances of a wildland fire can more easily extend into multiple residential buildings. The potential for a child to be burned or maimed, or property to be lost is greater and society today is less willing to accept those types of tragedies. It was only a few short years ago that the City of Petaluma allowed open burning of leaves and yard waste in residential back yards. Those days are over. Today, Santa Claus comes down the gas burner fireplace insert. When we were children we rode bikes and scooters and roller skates, without safety helmets. Today, if you are under 18 years of age, a safety helmet is required by law. We may remember when seat belts in cars were a novelty and today they are mandated. In the 1950's you could go to a drive -in restaurant where the waitress wore roller skates and delivered your food to your car window. Time moves on and things change. 2 0741.1/2003 09:49 707 -526 -5555 SO CO EMERGENCY SVCS Sonoma County Fire Chloefs ssodati®n '-,-Incorporate June 30, 2003 City of Petaluma I 1 English Street Petaluma, California 94952 Subject: Fireworks Mayor David Glass and the Petaluma City Council: 7 PAGE 02 On behalf of the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association I am requesting that the Petaluma City Council reconsider their decision to allow the sale.of so called "safe and sane" fireworks within the city liwdts of Petaluma. Although the Califomia Fire Code specifically prohibits the sale of ANY fireworks, the Petaluma City Council has elected to amend that code specifically to allow the sale of fireworks. A tragic fire recently started within Santa Rosa's city limits and ultimately destroyed a $750,000 home and. injured one firefighter ( go d degree burns to the neck), on the first day of fireworks sales is a reminder of what has occurred in the past and what inevitably will occur in the future. The fireworks that caused this incident were purchased legally from a fireworks booth on Calistoga Road, in Santa Rosa, just a couple of miles from where the fire began. Tlie response to this wildfire included 32 fire companies, four aircraft, and 130 fireft¢hters. The citizens of Sonoma County are fortunate that these fire companies were available and that wind was not a factor in this conflagration. The above factors helped to confine this fire to less than 30 acres. The fire community in Sonoma County has a longstanding concert: that fireworks increase the risk of both personal injury and damaging fires_ Each year our fire departments respond to serious personal injuries that or-cur when individuals misuse fireworks. Many other less serious injuries go unreported. Eye injuries, Band injuries and burgs are conu on. Fireworks burn at extremely high temperatures for extended periods of tines and can easily ignite. grass and brush fires, particularly during periods of hot, dry weather and high fire danger. These conditions often occur as conjunction with the July 4ch Independence Day celebration. 07/11/2003 09:49 707 -526 -5555 SO CO EMERGENCY SVCS Mayor David Glass and the Petaluma City Council PAGE 03 page 2 Fuel, topography and weather conditions similar to those that existed in the Oakland Hills are found in many areas of Sonoma County including areas within Petaluma city Iimits. Over `300 comtrtunities thrpughout California, including several :in Sonoma County, have passed locale legislation tias-min all' fireworks within their jurisdictions. 1 ask you to join with these communities and help make Petaluma, Sonoma County, and all of Califomia safer, by banning the sale and use of all fireworks within, your city. Sincerely, Vernon A. 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He. said, they had purchased legal fireworks from a stand _in' the St. Francis Shopping Cen- ter on Highway 12 at Cali toga Road. Fireworks sales began at noon. Saturday . and last;,, through .the holiday. The fire started around 4` p.m., on a trail near the` east edge of Mountain Hawk Park, . Santa Rosa Fire Battalion Chief Jack'Piccininisaid. Santa Rosa is one of five Sono -'I' ma County cities that allow fu*e- works during ;the week: leading up to the Fourth of July. But un- der an ordinance 'adopted last year, fireworks are prohibited in areas — including Skyhawk — that are considered at high risk for wildfires. Kennedy's neighborhood is just outside the Santa Rosa city limits, and fireworks are banned in all of unincorporated Sonoma County. As the fire, fanned by a steady easterly wind, raced, through open grasslands and to- ward the neighborhood, people scrambled to defend those homes most at risk. "We just ran behind the hous- es and started looking for hos- es," said Mark Potter, a 52 -year- old lawyer. Dressed in a T -shirt, shorts and,flip -flops and.armed with a shovel he met the flames head - on. "It was so thick we could hardly see or breathe," he said. Georgia McDaniel, a 56 -year- old environmental planner, helped a family of strangers evacuate their house. As the ho- meowner used a hose to douse flames onanearby tree, she car- ried outloads of photographs. "I never met them before, she said. "When there's a fire, people need help. You just do it.'' Firefighters initially ap- proached the fire from the point where it started. But as the flames raced across the gulch, they called for help and rushed to the other side. Witnesses described a chaot- ic scene: A CDF helicopter was among the first pieces of firefighting equipment to reach Futura Way. It landed just long enough to deposit a small team of fire- fighters. The helicopter quickly re- turned, a giant bucket dangling from a cord under its belly, and dumped a load of-Water scooped from a swimming pool. A group of horses, spooked, ran down the street. A small army of firefighters quickly reached the scene. Twenty-one engines, two heli- copters, two airplanes and two bulldozers were involved in the effort,. Piccinini said. The wildfire was the most se- rious in Sonoma County so far this -year, he said,.adding it's no surprise that fireworks are the suspected cause. SONOMA) i Fire burns COUNTY 10 acres, home I N t mile as The Press Democ "Fireworks contribute to fir loss somewhere in the city c Santa Rosa every year." h said. Last year, firefighters rf sponded to 500 fireworks -relay ed calls, though not all of ther_ were fires. If the suspects are found rE sponsible for starting the fir with fireworks, their parent could be held liable for the dan? age, officials said. Kennedy's house, which wa destroyed, was a four- bedroon 3,500 - square -foot structure. "I hope it wasn't that," sh said of the fireworks. "Thn would be senseless." You can reach Staff Writer Sam Kennedy at 521 -5312 or skennedy @w'pressdernocrat. com KENT PORTER I The Press Demoer suspect fireworks ignited the blaze, which occurred near the S ay as it moves toward homes: Officials sus Residents o Futura Way in Santa Rosa retreat from a fire Saturday p g kyhawk subdivision in east Santa Rosa. Press Democrat June 30, 2003 Page l of 2 lua alp' i� ®' ,�IICI rem d,,e*l of � t ., � ®F a, il 4nsKs,,� By MICHAEL Corr THE PRESS DEMOCRAT . A wildfire on opening'weekend for Fourth of July fireworks sales was a hot topic at stands Sunday and areminder of how even le- gal fireworks can do major damage. Sales were brisk for Piccolo Petes, Fire Krackles and other popular fireworks, but customers couldn't help but notice the con - ceen -over fireworks and limits on their use. "I heard about the fire this morning and I said 'Oh no,'" said:Karen McCall, who coor- dinates sales at the Santa Rosa Babe Ruth baseball league stand on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa. "We try to enforce that you've got to do it safely." Signs posted at the booths, which are run by nonprofit groups and remain open until 9 p.m. Friday, make clear that only people 18 and older can make purchases. that fire- works in Sonoma County are only legal in five cities, and that none are allowed in high fire hazard areas. Saturday's wildfire was started by 'two teens with legal fireworks in an east Santa Rosa subdivision within a swath of neighbor- hoods placed off - limits to fireworks a year ago as part of the city's attempt to reduce such fire threats. The fire burned more than 20 acres in a canyon - behind homes and de- stroyed a $750,000 home on' Futura Way. Fire crews kept watch over the area Sun- day and had to put out two SIiioliier•ing spots. Residents returned to weekend chores and activities, but the close call was still on the minds of many. "People were edgy. It was a little bit close." said Dan Madigan, whose Mountain Hawk Drive home stands just above where the fire began. Madigan and his wife. Sue, were returning home. Saturday when they spotted.a thick col umn of smoke ahead and a fire engine racing behind them. They watched the fire jump across a paver path and take off north and east. He wa: among residents who used garden hoses tc spray water onto tinder -dry grass to keep tht TURN TO FIREWORKS, PAGE A6 At the. 574th Armory in Santa;Rosa, Sgt Russ Roberts of Santa Rosa, left, sells fireworks to the Brandon family of Comptche, from left, Kyle, Tanya, Wyatt and Anse on Saturday. They bought a small family -pack of fireworks. 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The absurdity;of the city's current haphaz- ard regulations on. pyrotechnics was demonstrated in tragic terms Saturday. A fireworks- sparked wildfire swept through 20 acres of land near the Skyhawk sub - division Rincon, Valley, destroying a four - bedroom home In the process. Although, the fire, started in an area where fire - works fare prohibited, officials say the devices were purchased; at a.fireworks stand at the St. Francis Shopping,., Center, at Highway 12 and Calistoga Road, just: a short walk from Skyhawk. So' a'^ family; that lives off Los Alamos Road is without home and their possessions. And an 18-old young mim -and a 15- year -old boy face felo- ny charges,related'to starting a wildfire that de- stroyed a home. On top of that, if the suspects are found guilty, their parents could be held liable for thesdamage, which could rum the financially. Yes, the youths should be held accountable for their actions, if they are `guilty. But the city also bears some, responsibility by creating a confusing or- dinance.,that says: it's legal to buy fireworks on one block in Santa Rosa but illegal to set them off on the next. Despite the encouragement of fire officials, the City Council last year resisted doing what the county and:many neighboring cities have done in banning fireworks: Too many local non- profits are dependent upon sales of fireworks,'the council said. This is true, but it's also true that;non- profits in other' communities''have survived despite prohibi- tions of pyrotechnics. Of course it's too late to do,anything this year. Res- idents will need to keep'their fingers crossed and their eyesropen to make sure friends, neighbors and family members use fireworks safely. But <comenext year, Santa Rosa officials should heed the warnings of fire officials and ban fireworks — before more lives and property are destroyed. 1 I ' Press Democrat' 7uly, ; 2003 Fire accountability EDITOR: As a firefighter for over 28 years, and a resident of one,of the city's high -fire. severity zones, I would like to say that enough is enough. On Saturday, My colleagues and I put in over EDITOR Not everyone respon- six hours of our best efforts to sible for the destructive Skyhawk stop a wildland and structural fire on Saturday washeld account- fire, which was started by "safe able. The Santa Rosa City Council and sane" fireworks. In order that had the forekn'owled'gebut not the a well- meaning, non - profit, orgam- strength to refuse the firework in- nation. might make $15,000 to dustry and the non - profit corpora- $20,000 selling fireworks, some - tions their potentially destructive one,lost their house and a colossal fund - raisers. What if fireworks 'firefighting effort, was needed, all were not available to the teens? costing hundreds of thousands of County firefighting resources dollars. would not have been used. Proper- The worst part is, that it did not j ty would not have been destroyed need to happen. A little over a or lives endangered: Water re- year ago the fire and police chiefs sources would not have been de- of Santa Rosa asked for a ban on pleted and air quality negatively fireworks sales but were thwart- impacted. . . ed by complaints from the non-. What about the negative emo. profits, who benefit from the tional impact of this, event. on the sales, as well as the for - profit fire - Kennedy family who fled as. their works manufacturers who really home was destroyed? What about benefit from the sales. Well, in the negative emotional impact on light of the events June 28, it the responsible teens and the should be clear to all that selling costs associated with their ar and using fire producing products rests? I am sure the fund- raising during the summer is crazy. dollars are not worth even one of There is, however, a fairly sim - these consequences: pie and reasonable compromise,, If the Santa Rosa City Council which was put forth by. several ha asserted'its as �ounty Board o, previous letter writers, during the Sonoma Of the last debate on fireworks. The Supervisors did, and refused, the solution proposed would be to ban sale of fireworks, the Kennedy all private fireworks during the family would. not, have ; lost , their summer, but allow their sale and home. I hope the Kennedys and use for New Year's Eve. That way, their insurance agent pay the all the fireworks junkies, myself council members a visit. included, can get their fix when PEGGY SINEARIIdGEPI things are damp and green. Addi- tionally, the non - profits can still Santa Rosa make money. Fireworks damage EDITOR; The members of the Santa Rosa City. Council are re- sponsible for the damage and de- struction caused by fireworks on June 28. They allowed the sale and use of 'fireworks, albeit limit- ed, within city, limits. They went, against the 'advice''of the fire de -' partment; instead' 'they caved -in to pressure from specai. interest groups. I understand non - profit or- ganizations need to raise funds. However, this should not be done at the expense of the property and lives of the citizens of Santa Rosa. ANIPARO A.'HARGREAVES Santa Rosa Simple Compromise TINT DOHERTY Santa Rosa A , 'u Press Democrat July 1, 2003 That's it: The time's come to- snuff them out A a=e y's home is c firefighter's d, and if Santa Rosa oesn't now outlaw fire works; that will be a surprise. Today, Councilwoman Jane Bender will ask the council to look again at the ordinance that might ! have banned consumer fireworks from the entire city a year ago. Instead, the law prohibited them only in grassy, hilly areas — includ- ingSkyhawk, where two teens with fireworks allegedly started Saturday's fire. Bender, a member of the taskforce that came up with the compromise ordinance, looks more dimly on fireworks today,: ``We can't put people's homes at risk," she said. Fire Chief Tony Pini will go to the council's fireworks discussion load- ed for bear. He wanted fireworks banned from the city even before Saturday's blaze drew 130 firefight- ers; injured.one and ravaged a home. "If this. fire doesn't change the community's feelings about 'Safe and Sane' fireworks," he said, "then the next one will." It's true a ban would hurt the non- profit& that rely on lucrative fire- works sales. If we put our heads to- gether maybe we can come up with a fluid- raising idea better than selling personal pyrotechnics. just as the hills are getting good and dry. y L I Press Democrat July 1, 2003 That's it: The time's come to- snuff them out A a=e y's home is c firefighter's d, and if Santa Rosa oesn't now outlaw fire works; that will be a surprise. Today, Councilwoman Jane Bender will ask the council to look again at the ordinance that might ! have banned consumer fireworks from the entire city a year ago. Instead, the law prohibited them only in grassy, hilly areas — includ- ingSkyhawk, where two teens with fireworks allegedly started Saturday's fire. Bender, a member of the taskforce that came up with the compromise ordinance, looks more dimly on fireworks today,: ``We can't put people's homes at risk," she said. Fire Chief Tony Pini will go to the council's fireworks discussion load- ed for bear. He wanted fireworks banned from the city even before Saturday's blaze drew 130 firefight- ers; injured.one and ravaged a home. "If this. fire doesn't change the community's feelings about 'Safe and Sane' fireworks," he said, "then the next one will." It's true a ban would hurt the non- profit& that rely on lucrative fire- works sales. If we put our heads to- gether maybe we can come up with a fluid- raising idea better than selling personal pyrotechnics. just as the hills are getting good and dry. y - 11"'I`v"P m i,e , P Di.!inp ,4 111 I� v ! r i � �' � it �' �p, I II'' '' �� u I l r � �tl ��� h��,� � i��,'� � 11 �� �II A Rincon Valley ',house fire prompts,cound to agree to review By LORI A. CARTER and RANDI ROSSNMN rH K .P R ESS DEMOC R A IF yi Sp urred on by a, fireworks-sparked blaze cha destroyed a,house and black - ened , 42 ,acres.. the Saiita Rosa City Council on Tuesday agreed to recon- sid a' 2 -yeax old ordinance that al- lows 'sate and sane' fireworks in some neighborhoods� Councilwoman Jane Bender, who helped v Ar r ite , , I the I fireworks law, asked 'for the review. .An, emotional Bender told the coun- cil that she d gone to , seethe damage done by Saturdays fire to Don and Jo Anjae.Kenriedvi, home in Rincon Val- ley I . L I n I e , a I sl Santa Rosa. saw the destruction to the Kenhedys 'nome and stood there and looked at,zhe huge swath,of land that was toraLtv burned and how close it came to eight different homes." Bend- er ,aid. 'Ili mv heat^ of hearts. nu,furi er. [ can 5P.heve, is worth the destruc zion of iwiieho,lv's memories, hume Fireworks prohibited in these areas and in all unincorporated areas rks sparked Saturday's that destroyed a _j home and burned 42 acres Los Alamos Rd. Col Va. 'd St. Rosa. Fireworks permitted and belongings. ' she said. Bender's goal is to ban the i.de and use of all CLreworks within city limits. Nonprot organ opposed LEGAL FIREWORKS the gjo%re saying a ban would hurt doz' M " Safe and Sane" fireworks are on sale ens >f church, schoo[ and civic soups trough 9 p.m. Friday. rh.it h�rjLf_jt the COMMUMEV rIlroij4h ® '.n Sonoma County, fireworks are legal to tunds raised Burins ihe innual ftr- jse Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnerl work; ;des. ?ark, Sebjszccoi and Cloverdale. They are TI,M F0 FIREWORKS, 1 4A ' I illegal n other -ities and :n county areas. Don Kennedy and son Cdrey, 14,checli'ourt1fie ruins of their home Tuesday after P flie Saturday blamed an two teens playing With fireworks. The fire, which started behind homes on Futufa Way, just outside Santa Rosa city limits near the Skyhawk subdivisiori in east Santa Rosa, burned more than 40 acres. Councilwoman Jane Bender addresses the issue of banning fireworks'at a City Council meeting Tuesday night in light of the fire sparked by pyrotechnics east of Santa Rosa on Saturday. L, �i Press Democrat J ?. 200 3 3 Page ? of 2 9 pf CJ) ,,,' C rt C' CD (p (D �: c9 A O' w ..( "1 "''�n ,,�;,� m O..• A .W O•'`C ?1-1� $ O. O `< Z � '^f a'� m m .." .0 ` mi l, , .° '"',.�' C O w•W ''°"�'� y .3 a�o A "w5 0 rm r. y yU w z A � , � G , ai''I' w x G R c� a0 p w ;o p t; .. (D (0 o '..� �' "'t w v O m Ch y - N x w o° o° �,•o, ° o o � fA a rA ^. w R CA d0 � a S o �',� a„ � :� o = '0 "' m . A °: O. cp e p' r C A. a ' (�D A al, f��9• fD �, (D. �. + a, r. Z. fA ° , O�. C) (D 0 - 0 A m w a •1 Q 7 o f a 'i .` A fD 7' fD .! .� O Z' !Y w A 'O D 0 pr 7 9 Er :4 E 0. 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'g 01 w O,� "ao cD ?� � rt O o. , A'�C „�, Pj C � c : cp �c P mo o ' o o � 5 , (o g :r 0. � s,o � ra 8 ... a . c (7O :.ur a.� ( O.� ark D i m E � (p P p i a.(b y 5 5• (D x Da ''�” a (D 4 0 ,4 m a. 5: a O 10 Q �F d� a� ys ► • • ► • r•q K A aJ r w C ,� C7 p b CA , + ::� (9. Vj n n � rt (, x y 'P ��( os p��' O , w , �y b c w .COG ��* (9 o. �- o ►y c► A. 1 0 wcn O i 5: -�y o n� w „"� � a -" ., !p AO .:� ' 'A O '+ fD rt A .y 0� r O �° o s O 1 w y O �, A ( rA rt (D r R C • O F t (p � C rs w fD r a y W 5 O r ��FOt nyti) D F' CO) 5�lCR fJ P ► Press Democrat July 2. 2003 3: �ovcoEj p'I'cK�i oo, m rn ,rn .� C O O ?r • G a ID Q j 70 rs CID G ,14 , • C o I M O G �• CL C w 'Ow cc ® m �Q o` o �' W o �'�� K' o `� m - m � y O: to G- •{ 4 e! O X ° rt� �� y o • o o 9 �=� .w a: m ice' c�D o ID O O n n ti ,�, K ,'3 'KD ' rA O CA ID CD ID r as � � �o r � w p• C)'K � y. `� 5* c `� � � oil O�a`� w wm �� ,< 0 CA ID 4 �' O '. 7C O PFO O C cD to O° cn 0 qa �5.° SI •A xoo Oc9 a�y' p;a*';b G�G o 2. �. CA Cn 9 CA O O tD c � ao �. l 03 M q �r* °° m m CO M ID 'A CID $, cr M �� -� E� ° co y P !1 74 fD Ip M w O ;IV v,T,'i .M a Press Democrat Julv 2, 2003 Safe and Sane? EDITOR: I am writing regard Hasic Safety ing the sale of fireworks in Santa EDITOR: Your article on June'' Rosa, and the resultant tragedy of 29, "Booming profits," showed ex- a family losing their homeland ev- actly why fire officials around erything in it. Though the fire-.' Sonoma County should be -1 works are advertised as "safe and alarmed about legal fireworks; sane," that only applie when s fa them The careful observer of the pie::; they are on the shelf: Once ture will note the caution, "Han , they are in human hands, they dle carefully" on the box of "TNT can and do become "unsafe and in- Morning Glory Torch" fireworks,: T he use of fireworks is: being tossed during the unload -, illegal & 'The people shown mishap - in the area where the fire,,started� dlmg these bulk fireworks during yetthey were purchased at.a,legal' a hot day with low humidity are stand in that very neighborhood. clearlynotprofessionals. Where is the logic in that? 1 Was Given this horrible disregard also perplexed by the„ Gatto fami- for safety, one must wonder how y, who in the June 30 article were carefully these fireworks are be- 'quoted as coming from BoyeS Hot ing transported and stored in and Springs to purqhase $160 worth of around our cities. fireworks, as they are illegal .in. Casual disregard for basic safe - Boyes Hof Springs. Where exactly ty is exactly 'why government i do they intend to use them? jumps in and functions as a re gu- At what point does the cost to latory "nanny." For most life, limbs and property become the concept of people, safe too hi P safety is a mere ab- gh. I think " we have reached stracton: It's only after houses that point. I think Jo -Anne burn and the, new prosthetic gets ILennedy put it best when told fitted that safety becomes real. that fireworks were the likely Then, the 'cry for a governmen . cause of the fire she said, "I hope tal remedy is heard, and in tha it .wasn't that. That would be' case of fireworks, it's ju at senseless. safety issue. Unfortunateu I urge you to contact the, City ly, government regulation costs Council members to have them ad= money, and now is a really bad dress this issue again. I also ask, tune. if you have any compassion at all If this Picture depicts business' for a family who has lost every- as usual, every nonprofit organi- thing that you not buy fireworks. zation using fireworks should be very nervous about future fund' LORI BUCKLEY raising. It WW take just one dimV Santa Rosa, ter, and then it's back to bake sales. DARK WiLsON Windsor. Press Democrat July 3, 2003 A PULITZER PRIZE - WINNING NEWSPAPER Me DE XICX:RAT Santa Rosa, California Michael J. Parman, Publisher Catherine: Barnett, Executive Editor Robert L'SW0 fford, Managing Editor Peter Golis, Editorial Director i� �T� EDITORIALS F or . Nonprofit receipts can never match loss of a ja mily's.h ome . en it comes to raising money for youth, Church and neighborhood groups, Santa sa needs to find a better way. Selling ireworks simply isn't worth the price. On Saturday, that price was a home and a family's belongings, but understand this- Under certain weath- er conditions, the price could be a dozen homes — or a hundred.,In.a city in which thousandsof homes are 'I close to wooded areas'and grasslands, there will al- ways be hell to pay if a fire gets away. It isn't fair, nonprofitfolks say it isn't fair that Peo- ple serving the best interests of their community should be, pun because someone else made a stu- ' pid,mistake..,, ey are correct. It isn't fair. But what is'the choice? Perpetuating a situation in which other homes will be lost? If, as it should, the Santa Rosa City Council de cides to o utlaw the sale of fireworks, nonprofits will need the community's help. Some have suggested fire - works at.New Year's; other ideas may come along. But playing with fire in the middle of summer will always lead to a bad result. It could even happen this week, since, fireworks will remain legal for at least . one moreTourth July. Please, be careful. Press Democrat July 4, 2003 Fire, elcai l eave council few c dices oday will be the last Inde- ndence"Day that Santa Ro- sans can celebrate with le- gal personal fireworks. No, the decision hasn't been:made yet - But what other choice does the City Council have? When a f ire" sparkedi °by "safe and sane" lreworks gutted ,a, home. Satur- day in the"hills Ofeastern Santa Ro* the fundamental flaw in the,city's 2- year. =old ordi- nance that bans' fu eworks only in fire dang areas "high er" Fireworks are portable. As has been reported several times, thetwo teenagers accused of starting-last week's fire bought the fireworks.. ^at a,stand in the St. Fran- cis ShoppingtC nt , where fire - works.are 1e01'The °fire occurred only a couple ofmiles away, where ruigers :quickly pointed to mem- bers of the City. Council, blaming their half- meas ban for the loss of a $750,000 en the coon cif made its deci§Bon m 2001, it was�re- sponging to its constituency, which at the time. was heavily] weighted with representatives of- nonprofit;groups that raise large portions of their bud- , gets through fireworks sales. Caught between: supporting its fire chief supporting- youth sports and service clubs, th until compro mised. It's what Politicians do. ;But even 'two years ago that one serious fire was all it would take to push the politicians to- ward a blankef ban That fire didn't happen last year. This,year it did. So enjoy your Piccolo Petes and Your Showers of Sparks and your Fountains of Flame this evening, but don't expect to light your own person- al conflagration on the streets of San- ta Rosa next year. The council has'been given a clear sign that fireworks should be left to the professionals: To ignore that sign now would be; irresponsible. Fireworks crackdown For the second year in a row, Peta- luma is cracking down on illegal' fire- works and prohibiting all fireworks on the western edge of town. Fireworks, even those sold legally as "safe and sane" fireworks, are pro- hibited west of Hill Boulevard, El Rose Drive and Sunnyslope Avenue, along Windsor Drive, and along much of both I Street and Mountain View.Avenue to the city limits. The city is opening five parks or ballfields where residents can use le- gal,fireworks. Those areas are Luc- chesi, McNear, Prince and Wiseman parks and the lawn area west of City Hall. Those areas can be used until midnight on July 4. Police and fire crews will be patrol- ling the city handing out -tickets to anyone using or caught with illegal fireworks. The crews also will be giving warn- ings — or tickets if,people are unco- operative — to anyone using legal fireworks in banned areas, Fire Chief Chris Albertson said. Press Democrat July 4, 2003 Felony ch aiww, s a teens M akyh nre By JERBff HAY 'iBZ PR]kSS`DRMOCRAT Felony charges have been filed" a" inst two teenagers:"accusecl of starting catastro wildfire while �playing *ith fimworks,Authori- ties said Thursday. The fire charred 42acres; and destmy a Rin- con Valley h6me six days ago. BrentMiermans, 18, was charged 'withireck- lessly starting a ,fire that :burped an inhabited structure, Chief Deputy District Attorney Lar ry Scoufos said. A I&Year-old friend, whose name ,has bI withheld because of-his age, was,chaiged,in, Ju- venile Court wi 'the:same crime, Scoufos said; Heermans, who police believe thre' w a smolid TURN MARE PAGE B2 B2 FIREABlaze renews calls for citywide fireworks ban CONTINUED FRORPAGE B1 "They threw a couple into the back yard, then one went bomb that ignited the fire, fac- I that over the fence, hit the fi re es a maximum four-year pris- road, bounced off and into the on sentence if 'convicted, Scou dry grass, and voila," he said. fos said. - They tried to douse the The juvenile, could spend flames, Parman said, "but be- four, years; in a, youth correc- cause of the dry grass and the tionalfacilitY if 'COnYieted but wind it just got too big. probably4oh't,'Scoufos said. The fire swept across a "Usually_ unless someone grass-filled gulch, threatening has a record, thd'Y`'re'.not going homes in the Skyhawk subdi- to go even on something this vision off Highway 12, and laid serious,"he said. waste to Don and Jo-Anne Heermans :is free on bail Kennedy's Futura Way home, and the otherosuspect was re- a 3,500-square-foot house leased to his parents'' custody, about a half-mile away and according' to authorities. just beyond Santa Rosa's city At least eight homes in the limi neigh - off'Lo& The family of four lost every- Road were threatened by the thing in the home, Jo-Anne fire, and a V59,000'hous'e was Kennedy said, and has been ' burned; to ' staying with friends since. 1 The fire renewed "ca11sfor a "I don't think it's really hit citywide ban in us yet," she said Thursday on Santa Rosa, simi toprohibi. her way to another friend's tion& in place in the.unm house. rated areastof County Kennedy said she didn't and several other local cities. know either of the teenagers. Heermans and his friend, and has had no contact with who live nearby, bought the them or their families since " fireworks— f6un'tain-type in- the fire. cendiari , es and cherry-sized "From Day One, I, felt tern- smoke bombs - -at a booth in ble for them and their fami- the St. Francis Shopping Cen- lies," she said. "I know it ter parking lot on Calistoga wasn't intentional. I have a lot Road, police said. of empathy for them." to Heermans' The Heermanses didn't re- h' lace home the Lofty. Perch' , sPOnd to a message left Thurs- two teenagers,�st,iighted the hi day at their home. fountains on an elevated deck, Santa Rosa officials said then tossed lighted smoke they are still tallying the cost bombs into the yard, Santa of the fire response. Rosa Police Detective Chris "We will be seeking reim- Parman said. bursement on behalf of all 14 The home' is in an area con- agencies that provided sup- sider ed 4 hi I gh-fimrisk zone port," City Attorney Brien Far- and firework& are banned. rell said. Investigators believe Heernians father, was home at You can reach:Stqff Writer the time and aware of the Jeremy Hay at 521-5212Ior youths' activity, Parman said. ihay@pressdemocrat.com. Ban fireworks EDITOR On behalf of the Sono- ma County Fire Chiefs Associa tion, I am requesting that the San- ta Rosa City Council reconsider its decision to allow 'the:'sale of so- called "safe and sane" fireworks within the city, limits of Santa Rosa. Although the California Fire. Code specifically prohibits the sale of any fireworks; 'the Santa Rosa City Council "'.has elected to amend that code. specifIcally to al- low the sale of;$reworks. in Santa.Rosa's city limits and u1- , timately destroyed a $750,000 1 home and , n jured : one fir jeer (second - degree burns, to the 666 on the Srstday- of:Sreworks "sales is a reminder of what; has oc -, oared in the past, and wfiatinevi- .5 tably will occur in the future. The response to,'this wildfire -in -;, cluded32 fire companies, four air Press Democrat July -1, ?OO craft, and 130: firefighters -The citi- zens of Sonoma County are,fortu. nate that these fire companies were available and that wind was not a factor in this conflagration. The above factors helped to con - fine this €ire to less than 30 acres. The fire community' °in Sonoma County has a long- standing con - cem that fireworks increase the risk of both personal injury and damaging fires. Each year our fire departments respond to seri- ous personal injuries that occur when individuals. misuse fire - works. Many other less serious in- juries go unreported. °Eye inju- ries, hand injuries and bums are common. I ask1he City Council, as policy makers responsible for „protecting the citizens. of Santa Rosa, to fol- low the lead of other city's-and the county of Sonoma to'stop the sale and use of fireworks. VERNON A. LOSH President,.Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association, Santa Rosa Spht personality EDITOR On the subject of fire- works, The Press Democrat ap- pears. to be suffering from a split personality. On Sunday, June 29 the Empire News, section front page carried an _article about the fire on Futura Way that destroyed one home, brought out all the area firefighters and seems cer- tain to have been caused by fire- works. The business section of that same date featured,an article about how much money nonprofit groups receive from the sale of the same product that caused” the fire. Now comes the July 1 issue, wherein Chris Smith write% that the Santa Rosa City Council will most certainly ban fireworks in the entire city and your lead edi- torial is titled "Ban fireworks." But what is this on the front page of Lifestyle in the same is- sue? "Getting the most bang for your buck?" All about how to get the most for your money when purchasing fireworks. Come on fellas, you can't have it both ways. Which is it, are you for or against? Anything for the al- mighty dollar, or should common- sense prevail? BARBARA BAILER Santa Rosa Cost of damages EDITOR: Being fully cognizant that the "business of America is business," it remains inconceiv- able that annual sales of fire- works takes precedence over the safety and protection of persons, property and buildings. Each year there are injuries; fires and damages in our area, placing ex- tra labor and expenses for our po- lice and fire departments trying to exercise some control and safe- ty in the region. In this latest fireworks fun ac- tivity more than 20 acres are burned, a $750,000 home and con- tents destroyed. Efforts to stop this horror called into use some 21 fire engines, two helicopters, two airplanes and two bulldozers, according to the June 29 news arti- cle. Why? Well, nonprofits report- edly will raise some $900,000 on es- timated sales of $2 million. This sum is less than the costs of dam - ages andrlabor in our area. It is time the charity "excuse" was dropped, in favor of an honest way to raise funds. There certain- ly are many ways to garner dona- tions or sales profits other than a once -a -year fireworks sales, which are made so easy for them by distributors. In place of sales, let the city or county commission the fire department to conduct several saf fire e xhibits over the lakes in our parks in cele- bration of July 4. Sale of fireworks must be out- lawed in our communities. It is time for a definitive return to good sense, logic and straight thinking in the protection of our magnificent area. ROBERT SELWYN Santa Rose I J il l, I 1 Press Democrat July 5, 2003 U Vin„ D lol� n I l Y w NLfi>nl ^. I I III III �IINII!NI I16b ".. IINII .... I� n. I IOIIrIyu,Lq v nl mem�Fd Id IIII II illll' llliil l!IIIIiI I. Id'NNlllgtll L -� Ifni Y nlmin v� I 'lli I I N N.�YIIIINII' I "mIa_I tirll NI un !ro-. n ,IIIIN II II mII; IIIAlq, -,' o U. „y M .0 CJ r, 0 s o° `0 G ° CC !SL c O' c — W a � U O 0 v y 0 a rA A y Cb•� Piz ob >, J � N I -. t I' : 0 i. vb °g o F'' a o cu ° >' n ti "few. y �1 0 $--4 `, (D A Cd 0 0 0 w N .' O: � C ca A W (D D+ CA S ao >, C11 ° d y �~ ZJ J4 8, 2r p . o c ° U. a� w co — 3 3 cn� 'tS a wr ®: I ICi�ll IIC:pI , �rI�IN�Yr Inuul�r In�m�. �IIINIIIIIII .I,rI: I 1 "l I16i IIII I I�ro�ilallul CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 of the year to avoid vegetation fires. "That the problem,” Pfor- sich said. "These. things get into the trees and onto the roof- tops so easily." Under the current regula- tions, state - approved `'safe.and sane" fireworks.'are allowed, though the city has designated four areas where no °fireworks of any kind may be set off. On Fridaymight, fire inspec- tors, police officers and under - cover units combed the 'city looking for violators. Around dusk, -as;a public dis- play at the 'Sonoma County Fairgrounds lit up the sky, re- ports of firecrackers and sky- rockets :rang out, sending offic- ers scrambling to-stop'them. A report that a man- wasisell- ing fireworks Y out of his car led to the arrest of Raymond Kennedy, 28; who was held on suspicion of posse.ssiomof Mlle- g al fireworks, Santa Rosa Po- lice Lt. Tome Swearingen said. Kennedy•sat in the back.of a patrol car as the bomb detail sorted through the arsenal in a car trunk. One commercial - size mortar was placed in a special'bomb locker for safety. "These are very danger- ous," Studwell said'. In Petaluma,' etaluma, police paired firefighters and officers on:six patrol teams assigned strictly to handling 'fireworks calls and patrolling what Lt. Dan Fish. called.. "problematic" those with histories of ,prob- lem fireworks and those in the high fire hazard area. "There will be a zero toler- ance policy on it (illegal fire- works) and they will be mak- ing confiscations and, making citations," he said. The. special patrols, to 'be continued on a more limited basis tonight and Sunday night, were in addition to full patrol 'staffing for other calls, he said. Supervising Ranger .Rich Lawton said the Sonoma Coast state beaches had. been heat- ing up all week with lots of vis- itors generating lots of `emer- gency calls. "We've taken away quite a bit of illegal fireworks, a1= ready," said, noting 'that rangers would,,be on the' look- out all weekend, for any illegal pyrotechnics. Friday capped a week of en- forcement that began with the Futura Way fire. Pforsich was out Thursday night, talking to residents and chasing down calls — none of which led to major incidents. He drove through high -risk areas near the St. Francis neighborhood with a close eye on the parched brush. He said the Fire Department would have no tolerance for anyone who lights fireworks in the area. The teens accused of start- ing last week's fire were arrest- ed and face criminal charges, including recklessly starting a fire. Both could face jail time and be required to pay damag- es. "Obviously, we try to en- courage people to be safe," Pforsich said as he waved to a couple. "We'd rather prevent the problem than arrest some- one." Last year, Santa Rosa police confiscated 15o pounds of ille- gal fireworks, and firefighters responded to almost 500 fire- works- related calls over eight days surrounding the Fourth of July. Elsewhere in the county, fireworks are prohibited in high - fire risk zones in the hills of Petaluma, in all unincorpo- rated areas of the county and in the cities of Healdsburg, Sonoma and Windsor. Fireworks are allowed in Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Clo- yerdale and some areas of San- ta Rosa and Petaluma. Pforsich said many people ignore the law, leading to inju- ries•and property damage. On Thursday night, he rolled out to Coffey Park in northwestSanta,Rosa to check on a report of a burning out house. When he arrived, the porta- ble toilet appeared unharmed. The 'streets were empty and quiet. Pforsich opened the door and found a Roman can - dle -:type firecracker on the floor. "They're just little vandals," he said. Staff Writer Mary Callahan contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 521 -5250 or ppayne@pressdemocrat.com. U. „y M .0 CJ r, Cl) r 0 s o° ° CC !SL c O' c — W a � U O 0 v y c 0 to CA b r,b 0 LL 1(C Cd to Cd c VI x .8 csNd.C; d1. O 0 � 3 a1 0. y w ° !' e0 > Q CA Jy CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 of the year to avoid vegetation fires. "That the problem,” Pfor- sich said. "These. things get into the trees and onto the roof- tops so easily." Under the current regula- tions, state - approved `'safe.and sane" fireworks.'are allowed, though the city has designated four areas where no °fireworks of any kind may be set off. On Fridaymight, fire inspec- tors, police officers and under - cover units combed the 'city looking for violators. Around dusk, -as;a public dis- play at the 'Sonoma County Fairgrounds lit up the sky, re- ports of firecrackers and sky- rockets :rang out, sending offic- ers scrambling to-stop'them. A report that a man- wasisell- ing fireworks Y out of his car led to the arrest of Raymond Kennedy, 28; who was held on suspicion of posse.ssiomof Mlle- g al fireworks, Santa Rosa Po- lice Lt. Tome Swearingen said. Kennedy•sat in the back.of a patrol car as the bomb detail sorted through the arsenal in a car trunk. One commercial - size mortar was placed in a special'bomb locker for safety. "These are very danger- ous," Studwell said'. In Petaluma,' etaluma, police paired firefighters and officers on:six patrol teams assigned strictly to handling 'fireworks calls and patrolling what Lt. Dan Fish. called.. "problematic" those with histories of ,prob- lem fireworks and those in the high fire hazard area. "There will be a zero toler- ance policy on it (illegal fire- works) and they will be mak- ing confiscations and, making citations," he said. The. special patrols, to 'be continued on a more limited basis tonight and Sunday night, were in addition to full patrol 'staffing for other calls, he said. Supervising Ranger .Rich Lawton said the Sonoma Coast state beaches had. been heat- ing up all week with lots of vis- itors generating lots of `emer- gency calls. "We've taken away quite a bit of illegal fireworks, a1= ready," said, noting 'that rangers would,,be on the' look- out all weekend, for any illegal pyrotechnics. Friday capped a week of en- forcement that began with the Futura Way fire. Pforsich was out Thursday night, talking to residents and chasing down calls — none of which led to major incidents. He drove through high -risk areas near the St. Francis neighborhood with a close eye on the parched brush. He said the Fire Department would have no tolerance for anyone who lights fireworks in the area. The teens accused of start- ing last week's fire were arrest- ed and face criminal charges, including recklessly starting a fire. Both could face jail time and be required to pay damag- es. "Obviously, we try to en- courage people to be safe," Pforsich said as he waved to a couple. "We'd rather prevent the problem than arrest some- one." Last year, Santa Rosa police confiscated 15o pounds of ille- gal fireworks, and firefighters responded to almost 500 fire- works- related calls over eight days surrounding the Fourth of July. Elsewhere in the county, fireworks are prohibited in high - fire risk zones in the hills of Petaluma, in all unincorpo- rated areas of the county and in the cities of Healdsburg, Sonoma and Windsor. Fireworks are allowed in Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Clo- yerdale and some areas of San- ta Rosa and Petaluma. Pforsich said many people ignore the law, leading to inju- ries•and property damage. On Thursday night, he rolled out to Coffey Park in northwestSanta,Rosa to check on a report of a burning out house. When he arrived, the porta- ble toilet appeared unharmed. The 'streets were empty and quiet. Pforsich opened the door and found a Roman can - dle -:type firecracker on the floor. "They're just little vandals," he said. Staff Writer Mary Callahan contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 521 -5250 or ppayne@pressdemocrat.com. 'r NISI I Press Democrat July 6, 2003 LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK Mega1 fireworks EDI OR: I read today in The Press Democrat that the Santa Rosa City Council is going to con- . sider a ban on fireworks within .. the city due to the uproar over the fire June 28. I While I feel for the people who lost: their home, it seems like this is a'kn'ee =jerk reaction.to thel pro b- lem. Perhaps the City Council and the fire chiefs should look at the problem a little more,closely. I am a. .longtime resident of Santa Rosa.1've enjoyed "safe and sane fireworks ever since I. was a :kid. My kids and grandkids enjoy them. I work in,booths every year to help raise money for needy causes. I and many thousands of others have never started or seen anyone else start a fire with these fireworks. They are ,safe when used properly. To modify an old cliche: Fireworks don't start fires, people who misuse fireworks do. Proponents of the ban on "safe and sane" fireworks say "'that if there were no stands, the June 28 fire would not have 'happened. I know from reading The Press Democrat for many years ^that a large percentage, if not a majori- ty, of fires around July '4, are caused by the use, of fireworks that are already illegal., Banning those fireworks hasn't ;stopped People from using them. Megal fireworks such as Ro- man candles, skyrockets, bottle rockets, etc. are readily available. While I don't know where to get, them, many folks do. Each. year I have at least a few people come up to the,booth specifically asking to Purchase 'illegal fireworks. We watch them going off over our neighborhood each year. MARSHALL WARD Santa Rasa. " "Don't let lynch mob mentality rule here." SANTA ROSA RESIDENT TERRY HILTON Regarding the Gty Coundrs disamion over whether to ban fireworks citywide,. "I hope it wasn't that. That would be senseless." SANTA ROSA RESIDENT JO -ANNE KENNEDY Upon hearing that it was likely that fireworks started the fire that destroyed her home. Press Democrat July 6, 2003 Pagel o t 2 Flirc'works and .other lost,, items ofyouth k ek. ago,yesterday, my son, d in his.red Fire Chief t, and I stood on a hill not from our house watching thin threadsof.fire roll through open fields, turning them:from gold to ebo- ny. Firefighters were scattered' us' like players in a battlefield re-en- actment. Some hosed down ground below us whereAhe blackness ended just 20 feet from houses. Some were in the thundering helicopter over- head that was using a - large bucket to draw water from a lake. Some could be seen through the haze.run- ning along`a ridge to the south. It was a war zone. But even now, eight days later, it hasn't been so easy to identify the en- emy. The fire, which ended up burning 20 acres, near Skyhawk, leaving one firefighter injured, and a four -bed- room home on Futura Way in cin- ders, was started by fireworks. But fireworks don't start fires, peo- ple, do._.And it seems everybody is out to blame different people. Law officials are pinning the blame on two young men — an 18- year -old and a 15- year 7old — who allegedly were setting off the fire- works in a dry canyon. If they're found guilty of the charges, their'par- ents could be found liable for the damages. Some want to pin blame — or much of it — on the Santa Rosa City Council, which last year set up a con- fusing system of laws in which fire- works are legal in some parts of the city but not others. Some are going so far as to blame the churches, sports clubs and other community groups that rely on fire- works sales each year to survive. Those on the other side of the de- bate are encouraging city officials not to overreact and ban fireworks because of the illegal actions of a cou- ple of teen - agers. To all of these groups, I say, "You're right." Yes; these teens, who were appar- ently:playing with smoke bombs, shoulder the bulk of the responsibili- ty - if the charges hold up. With all the warnings that go out each year, they. can't exactly plead ignorance about the need for fireworks safety. Not at their age. But the question then becomes, What is the degree of responsibility on the part of city officials? Is it 10 percent ?Thirty percent? Just short of half? I'll admit my own frustration with f e rules that the. City Council estab- lished a year ago — rules, I should add, that the Petaluma City Council virtually copied weeks later. The Santa:Rosa City Council should have either banne&fireworks citywide or maintained the status quo: What it carne up with was an ab- surd patchwork of regulations that TURN To FIREWORKS, BACK PAGE Paul, Gullixson is assistant editorial director for The Press Democrat. &mail.him.at pgullixson@pressdemocrat.com. �V Press Democrat July 6, 3003 Page ? of FIREWORKS: family's lives will never be the same CONTINUED FROM PAGE Gi allowed the sale of fireworks, on one block but made it crim- inal to set them;off on the ,next. Did they expect teen -ag- ers to know the legal blocks from the illegal ones? For four years, I never had to worry about where the neighborhood, kids were with their fireworks. Atdusk'on the Fourth of July, tl ey were out in front of, my house, where my family�and °neigh- bors gathered each year to share a display of store - bought pyrotechnics. But last year, fireworks be- came illegal on our block. Sub- sequently, attendance at;our block party dropped.off erably.. And the,neighborhood kids disappeared. Man y were disappointed, understandably so;, at sudden- ly being told they would not be able to pick out fireworks with their parents — while , many of their friends at school still could. My concern was that some kids would end up doing the exact thing we`:feare&most setting fireworks off in places where they can't be seen. Was that the case this year? We'll see. I admit I enjoy fireworks. The boy in me cringes at the idea 'of losing this aspect of Americana. Lalso.feel for those nonprof- its and other groups °who rely on firework sales to make I admit I enjoy fireworks. The boy in me cringes at the idea of losing this aspect of Americana. ends meet. I understand how much $20,000 can mean to these organizations. And I regret the creeping evolution of the idea that any- thing that's fun or exciting or risky must pass the idiot test to remain legal (i.e., why must we. always let the poor choices of a few spoil things for everybody?) But having said all of that, I still believe it's time to ban fireworks in Santa Rosa. The risk has,become too great. And history has shown that adults are just as likely as teens to make poor choices about pyrotechnics. Other communities have found a way to adapt to life af- 4er fireworks.'Nonprofits else - where have found away to stay afloat. So can we. More than that, the genie cannot go back in the bottle. A house;has been destroyed, and the lives of one local fami- ly will never be the same. And no matter how we may try to explain it away, that is not an acceptable loss. Press Democrat July 7, 2003 - lebrating America isual temptation EDITOR;;I don't blame the teen- age perpetrators or their parents for the :recent fire in Skyhawk. I blame tte manufacturers of fire- works aid 'their promoters (in The Press Democrat, wm in r editorials criti- cizes Santa .Ross's ability to buy them, then contradictively, in Lifestyle section, glamorizes them). I.. blame Hollywood film; makers who create stunning,pyro- technic displays that children would want to recreate,. July 4 when fireworks booths become' omnipresent. I blame nonprofits who put:profit before safety when pandering fireworks. We tempt youngsters with these givid displays and;then pun= ish them when their innocent; wide -eyed pleasure turns disas- trous. Delegahze fireworks sales; prevent temptation and end one more possibility of summer wild- fires or injuries. BRETT REGANm Santa Rosa EDITOR: I was heartened to see you urge the banning of fireworks within Santa Ross's boundaries; may as well have included • - aluma, too. Unfortunately, it : will take the conflagration of an entire neighborhood before either city council will act on this issue.'. I don't buy the argument that nonprofits (some of whose goals I do not support) "must" rely on the profits of fireworks sales. There are other creative options: in the current atmosphere of by- per- patriotism, flags and flag stickers in all sizes would be hot - ticket items. Also, bumper stick -. ers of every political persuasion, from "My country; right or wrong" to "Support our troops by bringing them home alive" could also be big money - makers. Banning fireworks would also increase the quality of life in our communities. From the first day` the fireworks'stands open for busi- ness, sudden blasts of explosives disrupt the quiet of the evening as enthusiastic buyers can't wait for the actual Fourth of July to ar- rive. So we have more than a week of local ""shock and awe" along with shattered nerves and panicked pets. Really, this is not a satisfying way to celebrate our country. KR SCHUCH Petaluma Press Democrat July 8, 2003 Sparkling wonders EDITOR: Are fireworks really to blame? The holiday was a time to, enjoy life, family, friends and our frgedom. A traditional part of 'this family -oriented holiday is fireworks: Tliese sparkling won- ders bring neighbors together, .and the city of Santa Rosa should i not ban them. a The fire: thaVhappened in Sky- hawk was a tragedy Unfortunate- ly, some unsupervised children have taken away this wonderful holiday from a family and maybe' the whole city. Fireworks, are only as safe as the people .using them. Obviously, that is why there are:laws regard - ing the age of,those allowed to buy them. AsI am reading the Paper; I keeping hearing how it is the city's fault for its laws and the fault of the fireworks themselves. . How about the parents of those children? Why are we talking about ban- ning something instead .Of discuss- ing how `to educate people? Chit- dren need to be taught' what is, safe and not safe. It is-apparent that - we, as a society; have not done. that. Or have we? We focus on one event. stupidity, not on the numerous accounts of people using them;.,,safely and teaching their children how be safe .. . Let's not-let this symbol of free -, door be taken away because of a few people. . pyrotechnic fetes .EDITOR: I am heartened to read that the City Council will re - consider the legality of fireworks in Santa Rosa. However encourag ing as that might be, since I moved from Marin County to an unincorporated area north of the city where fireworks are "illegal, " . I know that only a complete ban Wi ll curb their use in all areas- My neighbors stage an annual fireworks "display" in our ,cul -de- sac that lasts from two to .four hours. July 4 here sounds like a war zone to my pets and me. I fail to sympathize with v t the nonprofits. that unimaginatively rely ,on fireworks sales to round out their. annual budgets. Many such organ izations in Northern California and elsewhere manage nicely with less invasive fund - raising events such as wine tast ings, art sales, masquerade balls,' auctions -- the possibilities are le gion. I can only hope that Santa Rosa rethinks its unsafe and in- sane policy and returns all of us not only to less disturbing Inde pendence Days, but New Year's eves as well. ANN SEBASTIAN . Santa Rosa EMILY DUNNAGAN Santa Rosa Press Democrat July 9. 200 3 ) Fire accOuntability Account t0 Clt 2, EDITOR: The morning, of July . tide read Press Dembmt's:ar- P !, cal nonprofits i works I es,and lo- ' I was shock to read that a group called the 'South and West Area,'Business Association,, is running a­ , fire. works booth. a �icle;when on I to state that each booth nets about so Just from m the ;sound of it, s ometh ing seis out of Place here. Why does.'the community need to help a , gi'oup of business '1 owners from the south,and west area? Maybe they send rt kids ° to C aMP in the summer and buy them school shoes who knows? in the fall; but I 'think the city of Santa Rosa , should at least ask for- som typ W accounting from these fore spend our, tax dollars paying work�.sh� and fire protection. Fire increase the b both city de urden on. serve it partmens� so we d <I know what.' are' we sup= - chases. with these fireworks pur- ALLEN THOM Santa Rosa EDITOR: The discussion regard ing the banning of fireworks is Santa Rosa or Sonoma C The night to fight? breaks down to what unto_ as a cost/benefit analysis. seer. EDITOR: The onl ally people favor surd than 8 more in Gen, ab Y that the costs of re ga in ban feei Rosa's „ the city of Santa P g homes lions on ent haphazard re _ and sending fire crews to fight Pyrotechnics" is kula fires offsets the benefit to 1oca1 for a ban on fireworks'in cal nonprofit torial section .on yOu'�- groups. I feel that this the she comparison misses the point in that you Dui a Y two directions. tion of "them - page celebra mendations on along wit rec61n First of all, the benefit of fire_. for gett. works is not the relatively small ban da Syour buck:" AII this most that the groups make. It �O Y after a front- is also the Joy that MY f describing page story my that deive by and wildfire g a fireworks stor dfire that destro ed a Ced t mg them off in our block by Preciateo &Mly While it is hard to Y ur advice, me assure quan tify, let You that this is a big I realize that fireworks Part of our summer..For those time- honored area who would challenge American tradi- ance this a ainst me to bal- tion, one that I myself looked for g the loss ward to of a asa..child. But every home, m there are those who ye y house did burn to the ' ground when I was in hi sPonsible' with Prove lire. school, though not due to f them, ��resulting in works. PrO sometimes catastro p losses of Second of ail, we have to look at Property and even' lives. The prod lent is that there other forms of risk. It is screen for plenO way to able that alcohol is a t i Undeni- tliose Peo. Makin , g evil in fireworks legal in some areas, g our society, takin illegal in others doesn't work. tens of thousands g the lives of You can't prevent so ery single year Americans ev- li eone 'from of millions. of ruuiui9 the. lives g<them n i illegal areas. You People. on our can °WY Punish them et There is no real need for th if you can catch them,we�ards, j chemical to be there; it exists for sure' the she which I'm ; recreation only, I present to tell y ou '. not wayP dep will the fact that You People driv Y Y By the from 'bars time a fire. is ;start ed and pubs will do Mu legality is somewhat irrelevant to ' More damage than a person leav- those whose homes and lives urg a fu'eworks stand, yet th threatened. are bravery of the editorial staff is Would wo . those who wou'call me limited to the prohibition of the un-American for agreeing with lesser evil. 'However, I do not call Your editorial be willing to . . for the ban on either item. up- house for�.the ri g1Ve I call for personal res Instead eryone else to light . g rlrs on and individual pOnsibility the July 4? this is a ccountability; after all, what makes u Americans, MIKE MAGEE Cloverdale ALAN PETry Santa Rosa Argu3- Courier July 16 Pffeworks, dru ul 4 has.come and gone and the papers are full of arguments about whether or not all fireworks should be, banned. Each year the fire chief of the city with the best claim for fire - works-related' damage leads the charge to ban,all1ireworks. Sometimes they win l and sometimes they loseAf they lose they ,get in line to try'again. What happens in the long run, however, is that :eventually they Win. Once that hap- pens, are SACS gAISHAW I gone,.forever. Sure, the case can be made when there's more than a grass fire. Especially when a home is.lost as in Santa Rosa this- year. Two youths, one a minor, were stu -', pid and caused a fire. So, all of us are expected' to give up ; all use of personal, safe and sane_ fireworks. I'll bet . that more than two adults stu- pidly'drove after ingesting the July 4 drug of choice, (wine or beer) and ahfe.. Was lost. Should we all now either never drink or never drive because someone will combine the two and cause human damage? Fireworks come once a year, drinking and driving 365 times a year. And drinking doesn't even have to be involved. `Unsafe lane changes, speed- ` ing, :running red lights and stop signs; these can be and have been deadly.;. Yet we won't even consider prohibiting driving. How about prohibiting alcohol? It's ! only a recreation activity.like fireworks. No way! What it all comes down to is that property is more "valuable to our society than lives. I'm getting too deep into this, but I resentahe puritans (i.e. anyone who fears that, someone,; somewhere, some- how is hay, ing fun) continually trying'to outlaw things that other people think of as: fun. We don't outlaw dune buggies and jet skis and fast,;driving, we regulate them. We don't outlaw construction noise ; and hazardous processes, we regulate them.. That's °what we've done and should continue to do about fireworks. We've already given up all the unsafe and °insane fireworks, let's at least keep J, our ability to celebrate Independence Day once a year. Or do we want to keep kids from getting matches too? { Fireworks Talking Points — Part II By Chris Albertson, Fire Chief ® Igniting fireworks demonstrates "patriotism ". It is how Americans celebrate the nation's birthday. In fact, there are a number of ways that Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. Igniting personal pyrotechnic devices is the most hazardous way. We also celebrate by having parades, picnics, fairs, neighborhood gatherings, and of course watching professional firework displays at the fairgrounds. Banning fireworks is not an issue of "patriotism" — it is an issue of " public safety ". Punish the illegal offenders. bevy fines and /or send there to jail. First we have to .catch the offending party, be able to identify the person, and then write that person a citation. Violations of fireworks ordinances generate a citation for a misdemeanor that has maximum penalties. For first time offenders, the charge is pled down to a lower fine. In fact, this process reflects the law and economic realities. We are getting the best legal results with the laws available to us today. Everyone is being punished because of the irresponsible acts of a few people. It may be true that most people use and enjoy state approved fireworks without incident. Unfortunately, there is not a "responsibility test" given `to all the people who purchase fireworks. There are people who do silly things, stupid things, and irresponsible things. Sometimes they get away with it and sometimes they don't. When they don't, it is the entire community that will pay the price for a tragedy that was caused by only a few irresponsible people ® If Petaluma bans safe and sane fireworks, then the illegal fireworks will proliferate. As demonstrated this past Fourth of July, state approved safe and sane fireworks masked or camouflaged the use of illegal fireworks. The six enforcement teams were overwhelmed with activity. A team would see aerial displays on a neighboring street. When they turned the corner, they could see people — "shadows" 'in the darkness down the street — picking up items and going in their, houses or behind fences. Passing down the street, the enforcement teams observed only ,safe and sane fireworks being ignited, although the spent casings from the illegal fireworks were visible in the ,street debris. A minute or two after turning,,the far corner, the team could look back and see additional aerials going up again. If all 'fireworks were illegal, then the state approved fireworks would not be 'able to mask the illegal activity.