As Angelenos put together to have a good time the Fourth of July, our skies will as soon as once more erupt within the glittering chaos of unlawful fireworks. However behind the flashes and booms lies an ongoing disaster: fires, traumatic accidents, extremely poisonous air air pollution and emotional misery — particularly for our veterans, younger kids, pets and emergency responders. The reality is easy and well-known: All fireworks are unlawful within the metropolis of Los Angeles. And but, yr after yr, the town is lit up in shows that rival organized reveals, usually utilizing professional-grade pyrotechnics in densely populated neighborhoods.
At MySafe:LA, our mission is to guard lives by schooling, prevention and preparedness. For greater than a decade, we’ve been working to shift public conduct round fireworks — particularly within the communities most affected by them. We’ve distributed public security messages in a number of languages, blanketed each fireplace station and Los Angeles Police Division division with instructional supplies, supported interagency outreach and included fireworks consciousness into wildfire security displays throughout the area.
However regardless of robust messaging and years of enforcement, the issue has worsened. Though the state fireplace marshal and different legislation enforcement have seized greater than 600,000 kilos of unlawful explosives this yr alone, using shopper fireworks stays rampant. Enforcement actions are inclined to deal with large-scale distributors, whereas the widespread use in neighborhoods goes largely unchallenged. Residents throughout the town don’t have to verify social media or information feeds to know what’s taking place: The unlawful fireworks reveals start weeks earlier than Independence Day and crescendo lengthy into the night time of the Fourth.
The hazard extends past the noise. On Jan. 1 of this yr, fireworks might have sparked a brush fireplace within the Palisades Highlands. One week later, a catastrophe struck the identical space because the Palisades fireplace raged uncontrolled. Whereas no definitive hyperlink has been made, the chance is deeply troubling. What occurs if the subsequent spark lands within the Hollywood Hills? Or Sepulveda Go, Topanga Canyon, Mt. Washington or Glassell Park? These aren’t far-fetched dangers. They’re locations the place Angelenos dwell, surrounded by dry, flammable vegetation.
It’s time for a brand new technique — one that mixes public outreach with sensible, technology-driven enforcement. Riverside gives a robust instance. There, all fireworks are banned, and the town makes use of surveillance drones to seize violations in actual time. Offenders are mailed citations beginning at $1,500 — no on-scene confrontation wanted. This technique reduces pressure on public security personnel whereas rising deterrence and accountability.
Los Angeles ought to take into account an identical strategy. We urge the Metropolis Council to spend money on focused surveillance instruments, similar to drones, throughout peak durations; to implement a quotation system primarily based on video proof; and to boost fines for confirmed violations to $2,500 or extra to discourage repeat offenders.
With the FIFA World Cup arriving in 2026, adopted quickly after by the Olympic Video games, Los Angeles should put together not just for the highlight of a world viewers but in addition for the elevated fireplace danger that comes with internet hosting large-scale summer season occasions. Fireworks mitigation should be an integral a part of the town’s readiness plan, not an afterthought.
In terms of fireplace security, deterrence works greatest when it’s proactive, seen and sensible.
David Barrett is the manager officer of MySafe:LA, the nonprofit coaching and resilience companion to the Los Angeles Metropolis Hearth Division since 2008.
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Concepts expressed within the piece
- The writer argues that unlawful fireworks in Los Angeles represent a disaster, inflicting fires, accidents, poisonous air pollution, and misery for susceptible teams like veterans, kids, and pets.
- Regardless of schooling campaigns and enforcement focusing on distributors, unlawful fireworks stay rampant, with neighborhood-level use largely unchallenged and escalating yearly.
- Dangers are heightened in fire-prone areas just like the Palisades Highlands, the place fireworks might have contributed to latest fires, underscoring the potential for catastrophic wildfires in densely populated zones.
- The writer advocates for technology-driven options, citing Riverside’s use of surveillance drones to situation citations (beginning at $1,500) with out on-scene confrontations, and urges L.A. to implement comparable measures with fines of $2,500 or extra.
- With main occasions just like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Olympics approaching, proactive fireworks mitigation—together with drones and steeper penalties—is framed as important for public security and international readiness.
Totally different views on the subject
- Prioritizing large-scale seizures (like CAL FIRE’s confiscation of 100,000+ kilos of unlawful fireworks in L.A. County) could also be simpler than neighborhood surveillance, because it disrupts provide chains slightly than penalizing particular person customers[1].
- Enhanced public schooling—similar to selling skilled reveals and non-emergency reporting by way of platforms like MySafe:LA—might scale back reliance on punitive tech options whereas addressing group considerations with out privateness trade-offs[3].
- Stricter penalties for distributors, coupled with statewide “Protected and Sane” rules (limiting gross sales to licensed distributors), affords a balanced strategy that aligns with current enforcement frameworks with out new surveillance infrastructure[2].
- Nationwide damage tendencies (e.g., 14,700 fireworks-related ER visits in 2024) counsel broader shopper security initiatives—like federal sparkler bans—may obtain better affect than localized drone applications[4].
