Guest editorial: Wake up and smell the sulfur, California. Prohibit the sale of fireworks | editorial staff

In these three jurisdictions alone, this adds up to 134 incidents that have undermined the ability of firefighters to respond to other fires or medical emergencies.

We appreciate the charm and tradition of setting off fireworks at home to celebrate Independence Day. But what used to be a cozy neighborhood evening with a few sparklers and small fountains has turned into dangerous fireworks. It’s time to let the pros do the fireworks. This is certainly a better way for Californians to express their patriotism than detonating M-80 fireworks and bottle rockets all night long.

Given the tinderbox conditions in the Bay Area, it was stupidly lucky that the thousands of illegal fireworks did not cause disaster. In 2017, a 15-year-old boy from Vancouver, Washington, set off fireworks in the Columbia River Gorge that set off wildfire that burned 49,000 acres and earned the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry more than $ 19 million cost to clear it.

California is home to spectacular beauty enjoyed 365 days a year. We should stop jeopardizing the homes, towns, forests and farmlands of the state so that residents can set off fireworks on July 4th.

Mike Hartman can be reached at 556-2255 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AZDS_Hartman.

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