Lois Henry: Idiots blowing it on 4th of July
| Tuesday, Jun 23 2009 05:32 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jun 25 2009 02:54 PM
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Fireworks basics
Anything that explodes or leaves the ground is illegal (that includes throwing or launching otherwise legal fireworks)
Buy fireworks only from licensed booths
Only "safe and sane" style fireworks are legal to buy and use in Kern County
Children shouldn't be allowed to light fireworks without adult supervision
Make sure a water source is nearby
If you're caught possessing or using illegal fireworks in the city you will be issued a misdemeanor ticket.
In the county, you will be issued a $1,500 fine.
Polls:
Last summer I called for a ban on personal fireworks.
Hoo boy! The reaction was swift and furious.
I was called a Nazi, hysterical, told I should move out of Kern County and likened to a "sheeple."
You'd think I would have learned from that experience, but no. I'm hard-headed that way.
We absolutely must BAN ALL PERSONAL FIREWORKS.
Perhaps you feel that would impinge on your freedom.
Yes, it would.
And that's too bad.
But we've gone well past the tipping point where "safe and sane" fireworks are used responsibly versus morons endangering large swaths of the community so they can make things go boom.
In other words: Your freedom to explode stuff shouldn't trump my freedom NOT to have my house burn down.
Other communities have banned personal fireworks and their worlds did not collapse. The charities that relied on proceeds from fireworks sales found other ways to make money, people found other ways to celebrate, enforcement against illegal fireworks became easier and so on.
Rest assured, however, the political landscape on this issue hasn't changed over the last year.
The only local politician who supports a ban is Councilwoman Sue Benham (her main issue is air quality).
Councilman Harold Hanson continues to support the use of personal fireworks on the grounds of tradition.
"It's a patriotic deal for me," Hanson said.
Even if the city did ban personal fireworks, it wouldn't work without the county joining in, Councilman David Couch reminded me.
Nope, I got no takers over at the county either.
"I'm for fireworks," Kern County Supervisor Mike Rubio told me. "It's one of the greatest celebrations we have as a nation."
Supervisor Mike Maggard said the focus should be on curbing illegal fireworks and Supervisor Don Maben said he would only support a ban if the Fire Chief told him it was absolutely necessary for the sake of safety.
Fire Chief Nick Dunn wasn't ready to go there.
"If they're used as intended, I don't think fireworks are a hazard," he said.
That's the problem (well, that and the unbelievable number of illegal fireworks brought in for the "festivities).
Bakersfield City Fire Chief Ron Fraze has unapologetically led the crusade to ban personal fireworks here.
"Yup, I've been singing the same song for about 11 years now," he said. Fraze and I both believe the professionally run shows should continue. Perhaps we could even have more and make them more cost-friendly for families.
But we have to get incendiary devices out of the hands of the masses, who might be the nicest folks you'll ever meet in broad daylight but whose "brains fly out their backsides," as Bakersfield Fire Capt. Ed Watts cogently noted, when the sun goes down and they get ahold of a little cardboard and gunpowder.
Last year, 30 teams of firefighters and law enforcement spent the 4th of July racing around metro Bakersfield responding to hundreds of calls and scanning the skies for tell-tale streaks from bottle rockets and Roman candles.
Watts expects this year will be much like last, when the following happened:
* More than 60 citations were written (that doesn't include those issued by regular engine crews).
* Six people were arrested.
* More than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were seized .
* There were five fireworks-related fires (including two houses).
* At least one person suffered a severe eye injury.
* And there was one armed robbery of a fireworks stand.
Happy Birthday, America!
Opinions expressed in this column are those of Lois Henry, not The Bakersfield Californian. Her column appears Wednesdays and Sundays. Comment at people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/noholdsbarred, call her at 395-7373 or e-mail lhenry@bakersfield.com
