City outlines three-phase fireworks enforcement plan and warns of stiff fines

Mountain House public safety briefed the council June 9 on the city’s fireworks enforcement plan, emphasizing a three‑phase approach: community education, prevention and coordinated enforcement. The city reiterated that all fireworks are prohibited within city limits year‑round.

Rex, the public safety presenter, described outreach including social media, targeted digital signage, Everbridge notifications to subscribed residents, and engagement with nearby fireworks vendors to discourage use in the city. Enforcement will involve a multiagency task force including the sheriff’s department, code enforcement, the fire department and additional officers and security contractors on patrol July 2–4 (and as needed around other holidays).

Rex also described the city’s enforcement tools: administrative citations starting at $1,250 for a first offense, escalating for repeat violations to $2,500 and ultimately up to $4,000 for repeated violations within 12 months; criminal citations remain an option in cases of significant violations. He said drones and tethered aerial cameras will be used where wind and safety conditions permit to locate violations and pinpoint properties for follow up.

Council members asked about outreach to vendors near jurisdictional boundaries, and staff said outreach to stands near the city line will be part of the prevention effort. Rex said the city’s goal is zero injuries and zero violations through a combination of education and visible enforcement.

What’s next: City staff will continue public education campaigns leading up to holiday periods, deploy visible enforcement patrols and begin issuing citations if needed; outreach to vendors at jurisdictional edges is planned.