Santa Clara residents to be fined for setting off illegal fireworks

SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara officials are trying to keep illegal fireworks from starting grass fires during the Fourth of July, so they plan to issue citations with big fines for anyone who violates the rules.

Kids and adults have a certain fascination with fireworks. Maybe it's the noise or the multi-color displays, but this year the risk is too high. "When we're talking about kids, it can be very, very, very difficult to get the message through, but to tell them the damage that they could create could be catastrophic and it could cost life," Santa Clara County Fire Chief Ken Kehmna said.

County officials are spreading a message of no tolerance for illegal fireworks. They're illegal, including the safe and sane variety in all of Santa Clara County. The exception is Gilroy, where safe and sane ones are allowed.

A big concern is the supply of explosive-grade devices coming into California from other states or ordered online.

An undercover arson investigator ABC7 News spoke with preferred to remain anonymous and says he's very concerned about the some of them. "These are explosives. These are not fireworks. If these detonated in your hand, you would lose digits. You would have second to third degree burns. These put people into our county burn unit," he said.

Deputies in unincorporated areas will have a new enforcement tool this year - the ability to cite people and pay a fine or go to court. "And now the burden's on you in regards to the notice, in regards to trying to convince the administrative judge that you didn't have knowledge that you shouldn't have been doing what you're doing," Santa Clara County Undersheriff John Hirokawa said.

Victor Mancuso, 7, knows now what to do if he sees someone with fireworks. "Like if they're my friends I'll tell them not to fire them because it's illegal but if it's Fourth of July and they have a professional with them, I'd be OK with it," he said.