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Council gives first reading to ordinance targeting illegal aerial fireworks; second reading set for Nov. 5
Summary
Ridgecrest introduced an ordinance Oct. 1 that would hold property hosts responsible for illegal aerial fireworks, exempt safe‑and‑sane devices, authorize administrative fines and allow seizure of small quantities; council approved the introduction and waiver of full reading 5–0 and scheduled a second reading for Nov. 5.
The Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 introduced an ordinance that would prohibit dangerous aerial fireworks, establish a social‑host standard for property owners or others in control of property, and create an administrative citation process to deter illegal fireworks use. The council approved the ordinance introduction and waived full reading by a 5‑0 vote; the second reading is scheduled for Nov. 5.
City legal staff said the draft ordinance would not affect "safe and sane" fireworks (those approved by the fire marshal and commonly sold at fundraising booths). The ordinance targets aerial and other dangerous fireworks that can start fires or travel onto combustible property. It would allow officers to issue administrative fines against a host who "permits or fails to prevent" the discharge of dangerous fireworks on property under their control or on an adjacent public or private street or sidewalk, subject to probable‑cause requirements and the right to rebuttal.
Police and fire representatives said the ordinance is intended as a deterrent and to give officers an enforcement tool where probable cause exists. The police chief provided background: the city logged more than 100 fireworks calls for service in each of 2023 and 2024, and county data requests for fires specifically tied to fireworks were pending. The chief said an administrative citation typically requires an officer to develop probable cause by observing the violation and associating it with a particular residence or person before issuing a citation.
The ordinance draft includes a $1,000 starting administrative fine (the chief said $1,000 for a municipal administrative citation; Kern County’s comparable fine schedule starts higher) and allows seizure and disposal of up to 25 pounds or less of dangerous fireworks under municipal authority; possession of larger amounts would fall under state health and safety felony provisions and be handled by county or state prosecutors.
Council members asked for clarifications about enforcement in public streets, cul‑de‑sacs and rental properties. The chief said officers would still need to develop probable cause and that social‑host authority is most appropriate where fireworks are launched from private yards or adjacent streets where an association with a residence can be established. Officers would first attempt to identify and confront the person launching illegal fireworks and, if necessary, hold the property host responsible under the ordinance’s standards unless the host rebuts the presumption at a hearing.
Why it matters: The ordinance aims to reduce fire risk and injuries from aerial fireworks by creating a deterrent tied to property hosts, and it provides an administrative enforcement path short of criminal prosecution when officers can establish probable cause.
Next steps: The council set the ordinance for second reading and final consideration on Nov. 5; staff said they will provide additional data from Kern County Fire Department about fires potentially associated with fireworks before the second reading.
