Illegal fireworks eyed as cause of California fires

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

(Reuters) - Three fires that broke out on the July Fourth holiday in California were possibly sparked by the use of illegal fireworks, officials said on Sunday.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that witnesses reported seeing a group shooting fireworks into a mattress outside a Los Angeles warehouse that eventually went up in flames. Fireworks debris was found on the scene.

The blaze spread to two other warehouses, causing as much as $3 million in damage, and injured four firefighters, the department said.

A brush fire in Santa Clarita, some 30 miles (48 km) north of Los Angeles, grew to cover about one acre before it was put out by firefighters, according to the department. There were numerous reports of fireworks in the area around the time of the fire, officials said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/illegal-fireworks-eyed-cause-california-fires-010101856.html

[onecaliberal]

1. The idiots around my house were shooting

Off the illegal variety despite the fact the whole state is a tinderbox. I'm kinda shocked there wasn't more fires based on what happened in my neighborhood.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. I can't imagine that it's legal to sell fireworks in CA

I'm thinking these idiots must have bought them in another state or Mexico.

[onecaliberal]

5. They must have bought them out of state.

My neighbor does this every year. The sad thing is a city fire chief lives 2 houses down and never came out of his house. It's useless to call the police, they don't respond. Probably because there are so many idiots. It just makes me so mad that people decide to thumb the law that could have such tragic consequences.

[Locrian]

8. kickbacks

In the "legal" states there are supposed to be times etc that they are allowed. But it's all BS. There's kickbacks (fire, police) special "taxes" on fireworks, so there's basically bribery to put up with them because of the money. It's always the money.

[hamsterjill]

9. Your post is spot on 100%

I live in Texas and, although we've had rain this year, we were in the middle of a record drought the last few years and idiots in my neighborhood were shooting fireworks every year oblivious to the fact that they might cause some real damage.

Fireworks are against the law in San Antonio, but enforcement is an absolute joke. The same people do it every year and get away with it every year. There is a hot line for reporting but no one responds. The police and fire are overwhelmed with other situations.

Bottle rockets do not need to be set off in subdivisions where houses are built literally five feed apart. The whole subdivision sounded like a war zone Saturday night. Animals are terrified and there is horrible stress and strife on combat veterans - ALL for a momentary pop and fizzle for a few immature idiots who don't care about anyone but themselves.

It is ridiculous, and fireworks should remain outlawed and anyone who shoots them in a populated area should be held accountable - criminally, too, where fire and damage result.

[PasadenaTrudy]

10. It's legal in CA

The city next to mine sells them every year. It sounds like a war zone here in July.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. That is CRAZY!

I just don't get it. California, with its horrible drought, continues to allow tracking and water bottling. Now you tell me fireworks are legal? WTF?

[C Moon]

7. It was so crazy near our house this year—it's hard to believe there are any laws at all.

[marmar]

2. Human stupidity never ceases to amaze.

[tularetom]

3. A few years ago, we went out for dinner on the 4th and my idiot grand nephews came out to the place

and put on their own little fireworks display, setting our very dry pasture afire. We came home right in the middle of the whole CF and we were able to put it out after it had burned about 10 acres. Fortunately, I had borrowed my neighbors D6 a couple weeks earlier and plowed my own firebreak around the fence lines, buildings, and oak trees.


I still break out in a cold sweat when I think about what could have happened if it had been windier that afternoon.

[C Moon]

6. Yeah, but fireworks should be legal. :/