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Riverbank police and fire describe surge in July 4 fires, detail infrared-supported enforcement
Summary
At the Aug. 20 Riverbank Planning Commission meeting, fire and police officials described a spike in fires tied to illegal fireworks during July 4, said they documented launches using a helicopter with a forward-looking infrared camera, and reported about 19 administrative citations and multiple large responses that taxed mutual-aid resources.
A joint presentation to the Riverbank Planning Commission on Aug. 20 warned that illegal fireworks created a sharp increase in fire responses during the July 4 holiday and strained regional resources.
“During the night of the July 4, I was at our dispatch center, from about 5PM till 3 in the morning. During that period from 9PM to 1AM, we had over a 16 fires we dispatched,” said Deputy Chief Clint Bray, describing local and mutual‑aid responses. He said the City of Riverbank logged five fires that night; at one point the department reported having 15 incidents on hold until equipment and crews could be freed up.
Bray and presenters described using a helicopter with a forward‑looking infrared (FLIR) camera to locate mortar launches and embers landing on roofs and dry grass. The camera, they said, provides a zoomed overlay that can be correlated to map addresses; staff reviewed footage with property residents when pursuing citations.
The presenters said the city’s enforcement approach typically cites the property owner when launches are documented rather than attempting to identify individual users in the dark. The city’s adopted campaign carries a $1,000 administrative fine for possession, use, or discharge of illegal fireworks. “To you light it, we ride it,” a presenter summarized as the city’s enforcement slogan.
Officials reported the department issued about 19 violations tied to the campaign. The presentation stressed public‑safety risks: the speakers said illegal fireworks have caused injuries and that some residents lost homes in fires during that period.
Commissioners asked about alternatives such as blanket bans and about the effectiveness of body‑worn camera footage; presenters said body cameras typically provide a chest‑level, short‑range view that is insufficient for identifying distant launches at night and that helicopter imagery and on‑scene corroboration were more effective for documenting violations.
City staff later told the commission that a fireworks appeal may appear before the Commission at a future meeting. The staff update also noted the city places nonemergency reports to (209) 552‑2472 for suspected illegal fireworks or other nonemergency concerns.
The Commission did not take action on the presentation itself; the item was informational and intended to inform commissioners and the public about this year’s enforcement and public‑safety outcomes.
