Sacramento will use drones to curb illegal Fourth of July fireworks
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento launched drone patrols to monitor and deter illegal fireworks use.
- Fines for illegal fireworks now reach $10,000, with earlier safe fireworks curfew.
- City aims to expand drone enforcement into a statewide public safety strategy.
The city of Sacramento has added drones to its enforcement efforts to limit illegal firework use.
Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan announced Thursday that TNT Fireworks and more than 200 community-based nonprofits assisted in the funding of two pilot drone programs, one in the city and the other in an unincorporated area in Sacramento County.
The drones will take flight Thursday and Friday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Drone operators will be accompanied by a Sacramento Fire Department officer.
“We love celebrating but the city of Sacramento has a history of illegal fireworks and illegal fireworks have gotten exorbitantly more dangerous,” Kaplan said. “We need to curb the use because what is really important is supporting TNT and supporting safe and sane fireworks.”
Last month, the City Council approved an increase in fines for the possession, manufacture, sale and use of illegal fireworks to $10,000. The city now has a 10 p.m. curfew for the use of safe fireworks — this is instead of the previous 11 p.m.
Last Fourth of July, the Fire Department received 1,465 emergency calls — a 45% increase from 2023, according to previous Bee reporting.
Through the drone program, the Fire Department can pinpoint the address of firework users and record the usage on video. From there, caught users are subject to fine-related punishment.
Approved fireworks have a seal from the State Fire Marshal on each box and may only be purchased and used from June 28 through July 4. Fireworks that explode or become airborne are illegal.
“We hope these programs can become a regional and statewide model for using technology to support a smarter, more efficient environment,” said Dennis Revell, CEO for TNT Fireworks.
Longterm, the city hopes to develop a legislative ordinance to minimize the use of illegal fireworks year-round, according to Revell.
Sacramento asks for illegal fireworks task force
On Thursday, Mayor Kevin McCarty wrote a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting the creation of an illegal fireworks task force and an interstate compact between California and Nevada, noting that much of the illegal firework use in the city can be traced back to retailers in Pahrump and Reno selling to Californians in violation of state laws.
“For far too long, California communities have been left to fight an interstate public safety crisis with only local tools,” the letter read. “We urge you to authorize the State Fire Marshal and California Attorney General to take immediate steps ... to finally rein in this problem at its source.”
Kaplan concluded, pushing for the city to have a “boring Fourth of July.”
“Let (the firefighters) enjoy good food. Let them enjoy the companionship of working for our city. Let them do the calls that are not related to fires started by illegal fireworks or carelessness,” Kaplan said.
Speakers at Thursday’s news conference encouraged people who observe illegal fireworks to call the Fire Department or upload pictures and videos via the department app.