Tracy officials brief fireworks vendors on safety rules, permit checks and hours of sale

City and county fire, police and code-enforcement staff held a vendor safety seminar in Tracy to review permit requirements, booth safety practices and enforcement procedures ahead of this summer’s fireworks sales.

Presenters warned vendors to display their operational fire permit, keep fireworks boxed and stored off-site each night, and maintain minimum clearances: booths must be at least 20 feet from parked vehicles and generators must be at least 25 feet from sales booths. “If everything looks good, the extinguishers are in place … we’ll grant you the operational fire permit to hang in your booth,” a presenter said during the session.

The seminar gave two related timeframes vendors must follow. Sales windows listed for vendor stands were: June 28, 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.; June 29–July 3, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; and July 4 (if product remains), 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Separately, presenters said use/discharge of fireworks in the City of Tracy is generally allowed from noon to 10:00 p.m., with an extended hour on July 4 (until midnight). The presenter clarified that unincorporated San Joaquin County prohibits use of any fireworks, including so-called “safe and sane” products.

The session included a short training video on portable fire extinguishers and a live review of the PAS (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) method. Josh Shelley, who identified himself as the fire marshal with the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority, urged vendors to prioritize extinguishers and to call 911 in the event of a fire: “Call 911 … let us take care of that,” Shelley said.

Presenters reviewed inspection procedures: a representative who has attended the seminar must be present at the initial inspection; even if a booth passes inspection before noon, vendors may not begin sales before 12:00 p.m. Vendors must show extinguishers (2A10BC type was specified), have product displayed as it will be sold for accurate permitting, and remove all sale inventory to approved storage or a magazine each night. Inspectors will do scheduled site inspections and occasional drive-by checks; initial noncompliance will generally result in education and time to remedy the issue rather than immediate shutdown.

Code enforcement staff urged vendors to leave sites cleaner than they found them, avoid amplified music or signage in medians or other public rights-of-way, and keep drive aisles and ADA access clear. Code enforcement described a progressive enforcement approach: courtesy warnings and educational notices first; repeated or serious violations can escalate to abatement orders and fines.

Presenters also addressed practical retail concerns. Staff said legal sales must avoid selling to underage customers (presenters repeatedly cited state law prohibiting sales to anyone under 18) and recommended that vendors refuse suspicious bills and use alternative payment methods if counterfeit currency is suspected. On theft, presenters advised vendors not to confront criminals and to call police: “If you’re being robbed, let them have it. Call PD,” a presenter said.

Organizers will collect completed acknowledgment forms from each vendor before they leave, and a permit technician (identified during the seminar) will schedule inspections. Attendees were given contact information for fire community risk reduction, Tracy Police Department and Code Enforcement for follow-up questions.

Why this matters: vendors’ compliance with permit terms, storage and staffing rules can reduce fire risk and injuries. Presenters cited national-level data to emphasize risk — roughly 13,000 emergency-department-treated fireworks injuries in 2025, about 1,300 involving sparklers, and multiple reported deaths this year — and stressed that local compliance and ready equipment matter given variable emergency response times outside full-time departments.

Next steps: vendors should sign and submit acknowledgment forms, confirm a scheduled inspection appointment with the permit technician, ensure at least one trained representative is present during all sales hours, and follow code-enforcement instructions on site maintenance to avoid escalation to fines or abatement orders.