Salinas reports sharp drop in fireworks incidents; enforcement task force issued 96 citations and $218,000 in fines, officials say

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 the administrative citation process: citations are mailed after evidence is processed, each citation is $1,500 per fuse witnessed, and recipients may pay, set up a payment plan or pursue an administrative appeal. He said the city has moved to collections through finance for unpaid amounts (rather than using a notice of pendency on the assessor’s parcel).

Why it matters: Illegal fireworks cause fires and injuries and have strained first‑responder resources in Salinas for years. City staff said improved technology and a sustained outreach campaign helped reduce incidents and that enforcement is intended to change behavior rather than primarily generate revenue.

Key details - Enforcement team: 39 task force members participated, including 16 Salinas Fire Department staff, 4 Salinas Police Department patrol units, 8 fire department drone pilots and about 14 city staff from other departments who worked overtime during the July 4 period. - Evidence and process: Drones were used to identify addresses and create geolocated evidence for administrative citations. Drone software and police drone footage shortened processing time, Knapp said. - Citations and revenue: Knapp said the department issued 96 citations and reported “just over 218,000” in total citation amounts. He said the city has collected roughly $27,000 to date via payment plans and paid citations. The administrative citation is $1,500 per fuse witnessed. - Reporting totals: Knapp said public reports to city reporting channels were down compared with prior years; the department attributed the drop to changing public behavior, cost pressures on residents, and the city’s continuing outreach and enforcement work. - Safe and Sane sales: The city continues authorized “safe and sane” sales through nonprofit partners. Knapp said nonprofits and vendors have to follow state and local storage and transportation rules and that the city provides outreach and safety briefings to vendors.

Council response and next steps Councilmembers and members of the public commended the task force and supported Knapp’s recommendations to keep using drones, add a dedicated deputy fire marshal position to sustain enforcement and outreach, continue collaboration with community groups, and explore a regional task force. Council unanimously voted to receive the after‑action report.

Quotes “Drones are a game changer for us,” Knapp said, describing how aerial video allowed the team to identify the origin of fireworks and tie activity to specific addresses.

What’s next Knapp proposed creating a full‑time deputy fire marshal position focused on fireworks enforcement and education, and asked the council to consider continued community outreach and regional collaboration. Councilmembers indicated support for the recommendations and asked staff to return with implementation details and potential budget impacts.

Ending Councilmembers praised the multi‑department effort and emphasized education and partnerships as central to reducing illegal fireworks in future years. The council voted unanimously to receive the report and asked staff to return with next steps for implementation and outreach.