WPD cracks down on illegal fireworks as ‘Safe-and-Sane’ go on sale in Watsonville

KSBW ACTION NEWS 8.### DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE GETTING WORSE ACROSS T HE STATE WITH "exceptional drought" EXPANDING IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER ...WILDFIRES ARE A BIG CONCERN.... ESPECIALLY WITH FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP. IN WATSONVILLE, MORE THAN TWENTY NON-PRITOF RELY ON THE SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS TO RAISE MONE Y. BUT WILL THEY EVEN BE ALLOWED? ACTION NEWS EIGHT REPORTER PHIL GOMEZ, JOINS US LIVE FROM SANTA CRUZ....PHIL??? THE CITY OF WATSONVILLHAE NO PLANS TO STOP THE SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS SALES BEGIN JULY FIRST--BUT THEY ARE CRACKING DOWN ON THE ILLEGAL KIND--AND THERE ARE STEEP FINES FOR SHOOTING THEOFM THE SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS IN THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE IS ABOUT A MONTH AWAY WATSONVILLE MAYOR, JIMMY DUTRA DOESN'T SEE THEIR USE AS A THREAT HE HAS NO PLANS OF PREVENTING THEIR SALES "I think unfortunately the, safe and sane are gettng the brunt of wh at people are really concerned about and that's the illegal firerkwos." MORE THAN TWENTY WATSONVILLE NON- PROFITS RELYN OTHE SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS IT GENERATES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION S. JEAN KEGEBEIN, IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FREOMED ROTARY CLUB WHICH HAS RAISED THOUSANDSF O DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS. "My personal belief is that everyone is going to do something with fireworks on the 4th of July and saf and sane is exactly what it says, safe and sane" THE WATSONVILLE FIRE CHIEF DOESN'T DISAGREE AND PLANS TO HAVE HIS CREWS TARGET ILLEGAL REFIWORKS-THE OS THAT EXPLODE OR ARE SHOT O FF INTO THEKY S We're making every effort to ensure that we get e th message out that the illegal fireworks will not be tolerated. They're a danger to the commity un RECENTLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRESTED A WATSONVILLE MAN AND SEIZED MORE THAN ELEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS BUT THE SOUND OF EXPLOSIS ON AND LIGHTS ARE ALREADY FILLING THE NIGHT SKIES "This 2021, this is going to be business as usual . We will have additional police out lined up to the date of 4th of July" " RULES FOR THE USE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS INLE;UD THEY ARE ONLY PERMITED TO BE IGNITED WITHIN WATSONVILLE CITY LIMITS USERS MUST BE EIGHTEEN THEY ARE ONLY PERMITTED BETWEEN JULY FIRST THROUGH MIDNIGHT JULY FIFTH FINES FOR ANYONE CAUGHT USING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ARE SET AT

Drought conditions are getting worse across the state with "exceptional drought" expanding in Northern and Southern California.As we head into summer wildfires are a big concern, especially with July Fourth coming up. In Watsonville, more than 20 nonprofits rely on the sale of 'Safe-and-Sane' fireworks to raise money.But will it be allowed? The city of Watsonville has no plans to stop the sale of safe and sane fireworks.Sales begin July 1, but the city is cracking down on the illegal kinds-and there are steep fines for shooting them off. Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra doesn't see their use as a threat and he has no plans of preventing their sales."I think unfortunately the safe and sane are getting the brunt of what people are really concerned about and that's the illegal fireworks," Dutra said. More than 20 Watsonville nonprofits rely on the sale of safe and sane fireworksIt generates thousands of dollars for their organizations.Jeannie Kegebein is the president of the Freedom Rotary Club which has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships for graduating seniors."My personal belief is that everyone is going to do something with fireworks on the Fourth of July and safe and sane is exactly what it says, safe and sane."The Watsonville fire chief doesn't disagree and plans to have his crew target illegal fireworks-those that explode or are shot off into the sky.We're making every effort to ensure that we get the message out that illegal fireworks will not be tolerated. They're a danger to the community" said Watsonville fire Chief Rudy Lopez Sr.Recently, law enforcement arrested a Watsonville man and seized more than 1,100 pounds of illegal fireworks.But the sound of explosions and lighting up the skies around the city are already happening."This 2021, this is going to be business as usual. We will have additional police outlined up to the date of Fourth of July," said Michelle Pulido, Police, Media & Communications Specialist.Rules for the use of safe and sane fireworks include:They are only permitted to be ignited within Watsonville City limits.Users must be 18 and they are only permitted between July 1 through midnight July 5.Fines for anyone caught using illegal fireworks are set at $1,000.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. —

Drought conditions are getting worse across the state with "exceptional drought" expanding in Northern and Southern California.

As we head into summer wildfires are a big concern, especially with July Fourth coming up. In Watsonville, more than 20 nonprofits rely on the sale of 'Safe-and-Sane' fireworks to raise money.

But will it be allowed? The city of Watsonville has no plans to stop the sale of safe and sane fireworks.

Sales begin July 1, but the city is cracking down on the illegal kinds-and there are steep fines for shooting them off.

Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra doesn't see their use as a threat and he has no plans of preventing their sales.

"I think unfortunately the safe and sane are getting the brunt of what people are really concerned about and that's the illegal fireworks," Dutra said.

More than 20 Watsonville nonprofits rely on the sale of safe and sane fireworks

It generates thousands of dollars for their organizations.

Jeannie Kegebein is the president of the Freedom Rotary Club which has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships for graduating seniors.

"My personal belief is that everyone is going to do something with fireworks on the Fourth of July and safe and sane is exactly what it says, safe and sane."

The Watsonville fire chief doesn't disagree and plans to have his crew target illegal fireworks-those that explode or are shot off into the sky.

We're making every effort to ensure that we get the message out that illegal fireworks will not be tolerated. They're a danger to the community" said Watsonville fire Chief Rudy Lopez Sr.

Recently, law enforcement arrested a Watsonville man and seized more than 1,100 pounds of illegal fireworks.

But the sound of explosions and lighting up the skies around the city are already happening.

"This 2021, this is going to be business as usual. We will have additional police outlined up to the date of Fourth of July," said Michelle Pulido, Police, Media & Communications Specialist.

Rules for the use of safe and sane fireworks include:

They are only permitted to be ignited within Watsonville City limits.
Users must be 18 and they are only permitted between July 1 through midnight July 5.
Fines for anyone caught using illegal fireworks are set at $1,000.

WPD cracks down on illegal fireworks as ‘Safe-and-Sane’ go on sale in Watsonville

Top Picks