Fresno Fireworks Crackdown | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Fresno, CA Which is why they're out right now, handing out tickets for illegal fireworks. At home firework displays kept Fresno police and fire officials busy Saturday. "Ill head that way also..Copy."

They were called out to this northeast Fresno apartment with a report of teenagers lighting fireworks outside this couple's front door.

"We came to the door and it just pop and popping and we see them running down there."

We rode along with Fresno police officer Colin Lewis. Every 4th of July, Fresno's fire and police departments merge and create a task force to crack down on illegal fireworks.

"This is all the calls holding for complaints of illegal fireworks for officers to be dispatched to here." Fireworks without a "safe and sane" seal are deemed illegal.If you're caught with one, it will cost you 1250-dollars. But fire officials say the penalty fits the crime. "It's kind of crazy. It's dangerous for us. It's dangerous for everybody."

A bottle rocket was the cause of this brush fire in Northwest Fresno. It came within feet from our own Angelos Stalis' home."We were able to catch this one early. It could have very easily been like the one we had the other day."

Thursday night's blaze was also started by fireworks. It destroyed this Northwest Fresno home. "The result of the use of illegal fireworks can result in maybe not your home burning, but somebody else's. And that affects the entire community."

Which is why law enforcement wants people to keep safety in mind when they're celebrating the 4th of July.