The Sonoma County Fire Marshal issued a warning that all fireworks are banned in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. Residents using fireworks are subject to citation or jail time, and may be held criminally and civilly responsible for damage caused. With the County of Sonoma declaring a drought emergency, these restrictions are vital to prevent wildfire. The Fire Marshal encourages those who want to see fireworks to attend professional displays.
“With our extreme drought, using fireworks is not just illegal, it’s more dangerous than ever,” said Interim Fire Marshal Steve Mosiurchak. “Keep everyone safe this Fourth of July and leave the fireworks to the professionals.”
Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors, urges families to, “celebrate a meaningful and incident-free Fourth of July.”
The county issued a State of Emergency due to extreme drought. During drought conditions, fuels for wildfire, such as grasses and trees, dry out and become more flammable. Dry summer landscape increases the risk of fireworks starting wildfires. These conditions increase the risk of extreme wildfires that spread rapidly, burn with more severity, and are costly to suppress.
Although “Safe and Sane” fireworks may be legal in neighboring jurisdictions, they are part of the Fireworks Ban and are not allowed in the unincorporated area.
Every year, people are seriously injured, property is damaged, and the risk of fires increases due to the illegal use of fireworks. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires. Additionally, in 2018, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 people for fireworks-related injuries, 5,600 of which occurred between June 22 and July 22, 2018.
For more information on the County of Sonoma’s Fire Prevention work, please visit: sonomacounty.ca.gov/FirePrevention
