With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Fireworks are illegal in most of LA County but they still light up the sky. So, where's the law?
In an aerial view, large illegal fireworks are set off late into the night, long after the professional Independence Day shows have ended in Los Angeles.
(
David McNew
/
Getty Images
)
Television news footage from Thursday night confirmed what many people in the region saw first hand in their own neighborhoods: Lots of fireworks lighting up the night sky — despite them being illegal in many parts of Los Angeles County.
Why so little enforcement?
Officials say bans are hard to enforce due to a combination of limited resources and the availability of fireworks for sale in more permissive areas.
So called "safe and sane" fireworks are widely available in L.A. County where 30 of the 88 cities allow their sale. that means in many areas you might see a fireworks stand doing a brisk business right across the street from a city that bans them.
Support for LAist comes from
The Los Angeles Police Department says it doesn’t have extra patrols out on Independence Day. Instead, they work with the Los Angeles Fire Department and their illegal fireworks campaign to disseminate information on the dangers of using fireworks in the lead up to Fourth of July celebrations.
LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar also said despite the prevalence of illegal fireworks, the police department only responds to emergency calls on the 4th of July.
Nicholas Prange, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said they respond to emergency requests on July 4 and will sometimes work in collaboration with law enforcement if there are fireworks arrests or seizures.
Patchwork laws make it tough
Lisa Derderian, Pasadena’s public information officer, said it’s sometimes hard to enforce the ban because it’s difficult to track where the fireworks are being launched from.
And with neighboring cities like San Gabriel, where fireworks sales are legal promoted late into the night, people don’t have to go very far to get their fireworks fix.
Support for LAist comes from
She added that officials often see illegal fireworks used outside the annual Rose Bowl Independence Day fireworks show. And given the brushfire dangers to the surrounding foothills, the Pasadena police and fire departments do what they can to patrol the area during the 4th of July holiday.
Still, the availability of fireworks in surrounding areas is outside their control.
“If that's the case, then just use them in your city. Don't bring them out to cities where they are illegal,” Derderian said.
In case you were wondering, yes, all those amateur fireworks shows thrown across Southern California took a toll on our air quality. July 5th was once again the worst air quality day since the last July 5th.
Where "safe and sane" fireworks are legal
Definition: “Safe and sane” fireworks are fireworks that cannot explode, be airborne and are less the 10 inches long. They also cannot contain chemicals like arsenic sulfide, chlorates and magnesium.
They are allowed in these L.A. County cities.
- Alhambra
- Artesia
- Azusa
- Baldwin Park
- Bell
- Bellflower
- Bell Gardens
- Carson
- Commerce
- Compton
- Cudahy
- Downey
- El Monte
- Hawaiian Gardens
- Hawthorne
- Huntington Park
- Industry
- Inglewood
- Irwindale
- La Mirada
- La Puente
- Lakewood
- Lawndale
- Lynwood
- Maywood
- Monterey Park
- Norwalk
- Palmdale
- Paramount
- Pico Rivera.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist