Police and fire personnel collect nearly 8,500 illegal
fireworks
By Rachelle Gines Staff Writer
Gilroy – Revelers kept police and fire personnel busy the Fourth of July, as they confiscated more illegal fireworks and for the first time issued dozens of citations.
The Gilroy police and fire departments confiscated 8,469 illegal fireworks Tuesday compared to the 7,349 fireworks confiscated last year.
Gilroy police Sgt. Kurt Svardal said police and fire officials issued 18 municipal and 40 administrative firework citations Tuesday. Those issued municipal citations were cited under health and safety codes, and may have to appear in court and pay a fine. Residents issued administrative citations are fined $250 for the first offense, and $500 for the second.
The difference between a municipal illegal firework citation, and an administrative one, is that officials have to actually witness someone using illegal fireworks to cite them under the health and safety code, Svardal said.
However, Svardal said, owners of property where illegal fireworks are discharged are cited with an administrative fine, whether or not they are present or set the devices off.
Fire Investigator Andy Holiday said that the ability of the fire department to cite offenders along with the police enhances the confiscation of illegal fireworks.
“Confiscation and taking stuff is one thing, but that doesn’t necessarily deter people,” Holiday said. “But if you take stuff, cite people, add a court date and a bill depending on the citation, that is something different.”
Holiday said a lot of people may not be aware of the administrative citations, and that officials do not have to confront offenders.
“With administrative citations, some people may not even know they have been cited. They might just get a letter in the mail,” Holiday said. “But hey, if you are the owner of the property, then you are responsible for what goes on there.”
Police said they responded to 222 firework calls during the Fourth of July, which was up from 179 calls during last year’s Independence Day holiday.
The increase in call volume might be because of Gilroy’s growing population, Svardal said, or simply because people might have reported incidents more this year.
Fire chiefs were on top of Mantelli Drive in the foothills northwest of the city, directing police and fire into problematic areas once night fell.
“It’s a really good spotting location,” Holiday said.
Firefighters also responded to two calls Tuesday, and whether or not they are firework related is still under investigation.
Holiday said a fire burned 1.5 acres of vegetation at Wren Avenue and Uvas Park Drive at 6:06pm Tuesday, towards the creek and ranchside of Christmas Hill park. Though the investigation is still open, Holiday suspects the fire may have been set by fireworks.
“Given the time of year, and the fact the fire began away from the walkway people used, I’m pretty sure it was fireworks,” Holiday said.
Holiday also said fire officials were dispatched to a small fire at an apartment complex on Lily Avenue at 10:51pm, but a woman put it out before fire officials arrived.
“She did the right thing,” Holiday said.
Rachelle Gines is an intern attending San Francisco State University. Reach her at 847-7158 or rg****@************ch.com.
