Santa Clara County 'Will Enforce Law' On 4th Of July Fireworks

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Santa Clara County officials warned residents against using fireworks ahead of the 4th of July weekend, reiterating the heightened wildfire risk this year and promising to prosecute those who set off illegal fireworks.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Sheriff Laurie Smith and various fire department officials held a news briefing on Communications Hill overlooking the East Foothills in San Jose on Wednesday, where they attempted to persuade a community emerging from pandemic restrictions to refrain from fireworks while celebrating the holiday.

“The 4th of July is joyful,” Chavez said. “Coming out of COVID is joyful. If we have learned anything from COVID-19 and the fires last year, it’s that we are all our brother’s and sister’s keepers, meaning we have an obligation to do our very best to protect ourselves, our families, our loved ones and when we do that we behave in more responsible and different ways.”

A historic drought coupled with high temperatures and low humidity has officials worried that fireworks-induced fires can further deplete emergency resources and cause toxic air quality.

Smith said that the sheriff’s office will enforce laws regarding fireworks.

“Don’t be the cause of tragedy,” Smith said. “Don’t be the cause of a fire. We’re going to be out there in full force. You understand the risks. Please tell your friends to enjoy the professional firework displays. Protect our beautiful valley and hills. And we will enforce the law.”

Across the state, drought-fueled conditions have resulted in conditions that typically aren’t prevalent until mid-to-late August. The number of fires that Cal Fire has responded to so far this year is 53 percent higher than the five-year average, according to Dwight Good, Cal Fire’s Assistant Chief of Cooperative Fire Protection.

Fourth of July celebrations result in twice as many fires than any other day of the year, Good added.

Through the "[It's] Not Worth It" campaign, the county hopes to educate residents against illegal fireworks. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of 19,500 fires a year are caused by fireworks, resulting in an average of $105 million in property damage.

Jack Broadbent, the Bay Area Quality Management District’s Executive Officer, said that last year’s wildfire smoke reversed years of progress in reducing air pollution in the Bay Area and that the region often exceeds air quality health standards on the 4th of July because of neighborhood fireworks displays that can lead to unhealthy spikes in air pollution.

County officials hope that repeated messaging and warnings, as well as the experience of last year’s record-breaking fire season, will lead to individual responsibility and the consideration of fireworks’ impacts on others.

“It’s not an attempt to stifle your opportunity to celebrate the 4th of July,” said Hector Estrada, the county’s Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention. “We all like the 4th of July. We all like everything that comes with it. But at this point, we’ve spelled out the danger in this area. We’ve seen it. It was at our doorstep last year.”