Riverbank deputy urges zero tolerance for illegal fireworks, warns of fines and fire risk

Deputy Alex Tovar, Riverbank’s community resource deputy, told the City Council on June 24 that illegal fireworks pose a significant safety and resource strain during the July 4 period and urged residents to observe local restrictions.

Tovar said the department’s top concern is public safety while recognizing that many residents want to celebrate. He described the types of fireworks that are illegal in California — aerial devices that leave the ground or any device that explodes — and showed photographs and video of aerial and ground explosions collected by officers.

Tovar said officers responded to 116 fires between roughly 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. during a recent Independence Day period and that four structure fires required mutual aid and multiple companies to respond. He said the city issued more than 18 citations on the previous July 4.

Tovar explained enforcement practice: if a device is traced to a home, the homeowner or renter may be cited even if someone else ignited the fireworks; first-offense fines are $1,000, second offense $2,000 and escalate thereafter, he said. The deputy said the department uses area-unit video and other tools to locate devices and owners, and that footage has aided enforcement and rebutted some denials. Tovar also said the department can deploy drones if needed and encouraged anyone witnessing injury to call 911 immediately.

Council members and staff praised the department’s outreach and noted the risk to homes, multi-family dwellings and nearby vegetation when wind carries embers. A city representative from parks and recreation also noted materials promoting pet safety distributed by a separate group (Love Riverbank).

Ending: The council thanked the deputy and urged public compliance with fireworks prohibitions ahead of July 4.