Fourth of July: City officials provide list of cities where you can enjoy your own "safe and sane" fireworks
There will be a lot of popping and booming all Fourth of July weekend, and as fun as fireworks are, there are also dangers.
Last year on July 4, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to 95 illegal firework related incidents and 29 of those were traumatic injuries.
One of those life-changing accidental injuries happened last year, on July 5, to 12-year-old La'Veyah Mosely. A neighbor handed her something, and it blew up in her hand.
"He found a firework on the side of the street, what he thought was a smoke bomb was an M-80, which I didn't know. I lit it, and it blew up and I lost all my fingers in my left hand," said Mosely.
She was in the hospital for three weeks, not sure if she would have use of her hand, or be able to play youth football ever again.
She is back playing, a year later, and she stands side by side with fire officials and medical professionals promoting fireworks safety, hoping that others can avoid such a tragedy.
Safe and sane fireworks are the way to go and acting State Fire Marshal, Chief Daniel Berlant gave a rundown of what to avoid, and how to avoid a $500 to $50K fine.
"Illegal fireworks include anything from skyrockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers, really anything that explodes, goes up in the air or moves around the ground uncontrollably is considered illegal and does not receive our safe and sane seal," said Bertant.
And, just because you bought safe and sane fireworks in one city, does not mean they are allowed in the neighboring city. The city of Los Angeles and all unincorporated Los Angeles County does not allow for safe and sane fireworks.
Los Angeles County
- Alhambra
- Artesia
- Azusa
- Baldwin Park
- Bellflower
- Carson
- Commerce
- Compton
- Cudahy
- Downey
- 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
- Vernon
Orange County
- Anaheim
- Buena Park
- Costa Mesa
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Huntington Beach
- Los Alamitos
- Santa Ana
- Stanton
- Villa Park
- Westminster
San Bernardino County
- Adelanto
- Chino
- Colton
- Needles
- Rialto
- and specific areas in Fontana, Grand Terrace, and San Bernardino
Riverside County
Fireworks are largely illegal across Riverside County— including sparklers — however, the following cities allow some use:
- Blythe
- Cathedral City
- Coachella
- Desert Hot Springs
- Indio
