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Where You Can Buy Legal Fireworks in Los Angeles County
Sparklers (Photo by polaroid-girl via the LAist Featured Photos pool)
Yesterday was the first day that fireworks went on sale in California, and they'll be on sale until July 6 at noon. But they're not legal everywhere in the state.
In fact, it's illegal to both buy and set off fireworks in Los Angeles city limits, and you could face a $1,000 fine or six months in jail for setting off even smaller fireworks (and much more if you set off big ones or cause any sort of damage). However, there are some cities in the county where it's legal to buy "safe and sane" fireworks.
The California Fireworks Newswire reports that you can buy fireworks in the following cities (h/t Los Angeles Times):
Alhambra, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Carson, Commerce, Compton, Cudahy, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Gardena, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Industry, Inglewood, Irwindale, La Mirada, La Puente, Lakewood, Lawndale, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Palmdale, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, South Gate, Temple City and Vernon.
Even though the fireworks being sold in these cities are labeled "safe and sane," it doesn't mean things can't get dangerous and crazy if you're not careful. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 23 percent of fireworks injuries are caused by firecrackers and 12 percent are caused by sparklers. And in Los Angeles, we also have to worry about wildfires, especially given this week's heat wave. Officially, both the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department suggest you go to one of the many professional fireworks shows going on throughout the county, so that you don't have to risk injury or fire. Although, sometimes the professionals mess up, too.
For more information, check out these safety tips (especially if kids will be around) and this infographic on fireworks injuries.
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