San Bernardino County Fire held a press conference to announce the new Illegal Firework Reporting System. The dangers associated with the usage of illegal fireworks is enormous, as recently seen in the City of Ontario, where two lives were lost and over $3 million in damage to homes in the neighborhood.
The new Illegal Firework Reporting System offers another source for the public to report the use and sales of illegal fireworks. Once a complaint has been filed, local law enforcement will be notified for follow-up and investigation. All reports go into a database that will assist fire and law enforcement agencies in targeting the problem areas throughout the county, thus focusing our patrol and interdiction resources to those specific areas. It only takes a few minutes and you can remain anonymous.
“The use of illegal fireworks puts the public, our firefighters and police officers at risk creating an unnecessary burden and additional cost to our communities,” stated San Bernardino County Fire Marshal Mike Horton. “This new county-wide reporting system is another tool that will assist us in getting illegal fireworks off our streets. By reporting the storage, sales and use of illegal fireworks, you could be saving your own life, the life of a loved one and those around you.”
Fire Marshal Horton went on to say, “We can’t go it alone. We need the public’s help in combatting this growing crisis. I encourage you to get involved and make a difference.”
The new reporting system is located on our website at www.sbcfire.org or directly at https://bit.ly/3rD7jyt.
“Fire and law enforcement officials remain united in the diligent enforcement of our local laws while making arrests and issuing citations for the use and sales of illegal fireworks” stated San Bernardino County Assistant Sheriff Horace Boatwright. “We take a no tolerance stand against this type of criminal act and pledge to continue our efforts in this battle.”
Over the past four years, San Bernardino County Fire investigators alone confiscated over 121,600 pounds of dangerous and illegal fireworks and issued more than 700 citations.
San Bernardino County Fire will be offering several Firework Surrender Days. Residents can surrender illegal or safe & sane fireworks; no questions asked, and no law enforcement involved. You drive up, fire personnel remove the fireworks from your vehicle, and you drive away. These events are open to all San Bernardino County residents. Visit www.sbcfire.org for a list of dates and locations or any San Bernardino County Fire social media platforms.
San Bernardino County Fire remind residents that possession and use of any type of fireworks, including “safe and sane”, are against the law in any unincorporated area of San Bernardino County. In the likely event a fire or injury occurs due to the unsafe or illegal use of fireworks, the responsible persons may face criminal charges and be held liable for damages. Property owners may also be cited if they allow fireworks to be possessed, stored, or used on their property.
We thank you for your diligence and willingness to get involved and stop this criminal act.
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