Spectacular Harding Park fireworks delights SP, illegal explosives a danger

July 09, 2004
Santa Paula News

With such a spectacular 4th of July fireworks display over Santa Paula Sunday night it’s a shame that more and more illegal fireworks were – and still are - being set off in the city.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWith such a spectacular 4th of July fireworks display over Santa Paula Sunday night it’s a shame that more and more illegal fireworks were – and still are - being set off in the city.The Independence Day fireworks drew a huge crowd to Harding Park and others were able to view the spectacular display – twice as long as previous years with plenty of extra pyrotechnic pizzazz – from all over the city.Whether it be at Harding Park, a favorite hillside parking space or even from a home’s front porch the fireworks show was enjoyed by all sky-watchers.But something also seen by sky watchers were the illegal fireworks, especially troubling in a season of high fire danger.Santa Paula Fire Department Chief Paul Skeels said the amount of fireworks being set off has been higher than normal and is a serious fire danger.
Assistant Fire Chief Rick Araiza noted that this year skyrockets have been set off.“I’ve never seen that before,” noted Asst. Chief Araiza.Fire rockets are just that: they are fired from ground level and soar up into the air. Some seem to be set to go off automatically, one after another.Numerous reports of rockets and other illegal fireworks were reported to the Santa Paula Police but such reports are hard to enforce: when those setting off illegal fireworks see a patrol car they scatter. When the patrol car leaves those with the fireworks return to set them off again.Reports of illegal fireworks being set off were being received by the SPPD well in advance of the sales that occur each year in neighboring Fillmore.Fillmore is the only city in Ventura County that allows service clubs and organizations to sell the so-called “safe and sane” fireworks and encourages buyers to set them off within city limits. The fireworks sold in Fillmore are often the major source of annual income to a variety of nonprofit organizations.



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