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Salinas reports sharp drop in fireworks incidents; enforcement task force issued 96 citations and $218,000 in fines, officials say
Summary
Fire Marshal Chris Knapp told the City Council the department used drones, marked/unmarked vehicles and community reporting to document illegal fireworks. Council unanimously accepted the after‑action report and supported recommendations to expand outreach and interagency coordination.
Fire Marshal Chris Knapp told the Salinas City Council on Aug. 26 that the city saw fewer fireworks incidents during the 2025 Fourth of July enforcement period and that a multi‑agency task force relying on drones and video documentation produced dozens of administrative citations.
Knapp, division chief and fire marshal for the Salinas Fire Department, said the task force prioritized high‑quality documentation over immediate in‑person contact and used drones to geolocate addresses where fireworks were deployed. He told the council the department issued 96 administrative citations tied to illegal fireworks and that the total of those citations amounted to “just over 218,000,” with collected payments of about $27,000 so far, including payment plans, and 24 open payment plans.
The report said the city’s enforcement model relies on public reporting (911, Salinas Connect, a fireworks hotline and a tips website), marked and unmarked vehicles, and drone footage that generates a geolocation and address tied to observed activity. Knapp described…
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