Thousands of local residents are expected to gather at Gilroy
High School Sunday to gaze in wonder at the city’s annual Fourth of
July fireworks display.
Thousands of local residents are expected to gather at Gilroy High School Sunday to gaze in wonder at the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
Meanwhile, plenty of local residents will likely host pyrotechnics presentations of their own, and the Gilroy Fire Department wants to ensure those are conducted in a legal manner.
“If you didn’t get (fireworks) at a community booth, it’s not legal,” Gilroy Fire Marshal Jacqueline Bretschneider said Monday.
Gilroy is the only city to allow fireworks in Santa Clara County, although they cannot be lit on public property, such as parks, and they are not allowed in housing developments that stand adjacent to the hills. Specifically residents cannot light fireworks anywhere west of Santa Teresa Boulevard and south of Hecker Pass Road and anywhere west of Rancho Hills Drive either on or north of Mantelli Drive.
Local residents are only allowed to use fireworks with the “Safe and Sane” label, which are sold at 16 local stands.
People are not allowed to transport those pyrotechnics to other cities or unincorporated areas, although Bretschneider said she did not think that was much of a problem anyway. In addition, people only can light fireworks between July 1 and midnight on Independence Day.
In general, any firework that either explodes or leaves the ground is illegal, Bretschneider said. Anyone who is found with illegal fireworks in town can face administrative citations of $250 for a first offense and potentially misdemeanor citations, with penalties of up to $1,000. In addition, anyone who is caught with large firecrackers such as M-80s, Silver Salutes and Brown Bombers can face felony charges and be subject to a year of imprisonment and a fine of $5,000.
Last year, the city issued about 20 administrative citations, Bretschneider said. The fire department received about 200 calls of complaints of illegal fireworks the night of Independence Day last year, Bretschneider said.
This year, the city will place nine extra police officers on patrol as well as extra fire engine companies on duty to help with enforcement.
Sunday will be a particularly busy evening for the city, as a massive crowd is expected to gather at Gilroy High School for the fireworks display.
The show starts at dusk – typically at about 9 to 9:15 p.m. – and generally draws “bumper to bumper” traffic to the high school, said Greg Garcia, recreation coordinator for the City of Gilroy.
“It’s just an exciting event,” Garcia said. “It’s something that’s fun. It’s nice to see everyone get together.”
Garcia likened the fireworks show to a community reunion. Last year, the city debated about whether to continue the $10,000 fireworks show, but community members made it clear that they wanted to keep the show intact, Garcia said.
One advantage of the fireworks display is that is done in a “safe, controlled environment,” said Maria De Leon, the City of Gilroy’s recreation manager,
“People get to experience professional fireworks that are done in a manner that is safe,” she said.
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Gilroy fireworks booths
Christian School Parents Club: 8220 Monterey Road
City of Gilroy Adaptive Recreation: 780 First St.
El Camino Club: 971 First St.
Gavilan College Boosters: 1210 First St.
Gilroy Hispanic Chamber: 8850 San Ysidro Ave.
GIlroy High School cheerleaders: 7940 Monterey Ave.
Gilroy High School Quarterback Club: 401 E. 10th St.
Gilroy Little League: 691 First St.
Gilroy Police Officers Association: 8400 Church St.
Gilroy Pop Warner: 6990 Chestnut St.
Gilroy Pop Warner cheerleaders: 80 10th St.
Karazenpo Karate: 8017 Wayland Lane
Gilroy Elks: 210 10th St.
Stick and Move Boxing: 1425 First St.
Victory Outreach Gilroy: 435 First St.
Apostolic Assembly Church: 7150 Camino Arroyo
