June 6 , 2019

Merced cracking down on illegal fireworks

This year the City of Merced is continuing its Celebrate Safe campaign to cut down on the use of illegal fireworks. The goal is to reduce fires, injuries, noise, lost pets and neighborhood disruptions.
Use a skyrocket or a barrel bomb and it could cost you up to $2,000. Keep using illegal fireworks or sell them and it could land you in court.
The City is enforcing laws against any fireworks not labelled “safe and sane” by the California State Fire Marshall, said Fire Chief Billy Alcorn. If it explodes or leaves the ground or has been modified, it’s not safe and sane.
Extra officers will be on patrol over the Fourth of July holidays to enforce fireworks violations, said Police Chief Chris Goodwin. There also is a special phone number and email for people to report illegal fireworks.
The campaign started in 2018 based on City Council Member Kevin Blake who said Merced looked like a “battle zone with the sky lit up with skyrockets and the air filled with explosions.”
He said he had received calls from residents who had to medicate their pets because they were traumatized due to the constant loud noises over the holidays.............................................................>>>>more