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San Jose $50,000 Effort To Curtail Illegal Fireworks A Dud

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SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — The City of San Jose spent tens of thousands of dollars to try and curtail the use of illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July. It didn’t work.

Timelapse video from the hills overlooking San Jose shows the hundreds – if not thousands – of illegal fireworks explosions over the city.

“Last night, i was telling my husband, seemed worse than in other years, surprisingly,” said downtown resident Patty Greenroe.

Surprising because San Jose spent $50,000 on a public outreach campaign – flooding the community with billboards and on-air announcements – reminding people that fireworks are illegal in the city.

They had hoped to leverage peer pressure or the threat of neighbor turning in neighbor to cut down on displays like those seen across the city last night. But for the most part, the effort was a dud.

“It was actually kind of like a war zone,” said Greenroe. “It was ‘bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.’ I was really surprised.”

We showed the timelapse, which I recorded from my backyard between 9 and ten last night, to city officials who had hoped their campaign would have had more of an effect.

“That’s not really a surprise,” said Cheryl Wessling. “It is a sad statement, though, of how people are not listening to the fireworks message which was really, ‘Let’s show some respect for the community.'”

The city says it will be a long process to change behaviors, and there were some successes.

“At Kelly Park, the rangers noted that it seemed like less fireworks use there,” said Wessling. “And in a couple of neighborhoods we heard reports that it seemed like it [had tapered off] a little bit compared to last year.” The bad news is in some neighborhoods, it was just as bad as ever.”

There was no word of any major injuries from the illegal fireworks use in San Jose, although a teenager in Newark lost a part of his hand to an illegal fireworks explosion.


Antioch Apartment Fire Sends 3 To Hospital; Nearly $1 Million In Damage

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ANTIOCH (CBS SF) — Firefighters in Antioch are investigating a four-alarm apartment fire that broke out Friday night and sent three people to the hospital.

The blaze was first reported around 10 p.m. in the 3900 block of Delta Fair Boulevard, Contra Costa Fire Protection District Capt. George Laing said.

Four people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and three were taken to the hospital.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before midnight.

It appears the blaze started as a vegetation fire and then spread to several structures, according to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

There were 18 units in three buildings and one acre of vegetation damaged in the fire.

The damaged caused by the fire is estimated at $990,000.

The blaze may have been started by fireworks, as there were earlier reports of fireworks in the area, according to Laing.

© Copyright 2017 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

San Jose Hands Out Illegal Fireworks Fines Without Providing Proof

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SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — Illegal fireworks lit up the sky over San Jose over the Fourth of July weekend, and now city authorities are issuing fines to people they believe shot off those illegal fireworks.

But some residents who got citations say the city has no proof of the violations.

There are some angry residents in San Jose.

A city PR campaign to stop people from shooting off illegal fireworks obviously didn’t work and now the city is sending out fines to people, accusing them of shooting off fireworks even though the city has no proof.

Neighbor Amy Guzules says she hasn’t set off fireworks since she was a child, a time when they were legal.

Guzules said, “I was furious. I couldn’t believe that somebody could report something online and automatically I’d get a ticket.”

And so imagine her surprise when she received a $500 citation in the mail less than two weeks after the Fourth of July.

Three families in her neighborhood received fireworks citations.

The city has been aggressively cracking down on illegal fireworks in recent years, encouraging citizens to report offenders anonymously and even removing the requirement that they have video or photographic evidence of someone setting off fireworks before filing the report.

Guzules and her neighbors say the city policy is poorly designed as it is reliant on anonymous reporting and unsubstantiated allegations that shifts the burden of proof to the accused.

Neighbor Keith said, “I just think it’s not thought out. Did they really think about the outcome?”

All say they are innocent and are furious that they have to pay the $500 fine for a first offense, before challenging the citation in court.

“They’re just issuing these citations. There’s no investigation that’s been done or anything by city officials,” Keith said.

A spokesperson for a city says they received more than 1,000 complaints, but only issued citations when there was photo or video evidence, multiple reports or a high degree of confidence from the reporting party.

Or at the very least a follow-up conversation with the reporting party.

Guzules said, “People who are accusing don’t need proof. But the people who are accused have to pay a fine in order to prove that they’re innocent. It’s backwards and it needs to change.”

San Jose Dismisses Illegal Fireworks Citations After Complaints

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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – San Jose city officials announced on Thursday the city will be dismissing all 45 citations that were issued for illegal use of fireworks that were based on complaints recently submitted through a pilot online reporting tool.

The citations being dismissed were issued in May, June and July, according to city officials.

The residents who received the mailed citations will instead be issued warning letters.

City officials made the decision on Wednesday after a review of the citation process.

Officials said any residents who already paid the fines associated with the citations would be reimbursed.

This was the first year the city issued citations using information submitted through the pilot online reporting tool.

Officials said that between late May and July 12, residents filed 1,075 online reports of fireworks use. Of the reports issued, there were 45 citations issued following review by city staff.

During the last few weeks, city staff reviewed the process and criteria for issuing citations, and the review included listening to some people who felt they received citations unfairly, officials said.

© Copyright 2017 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Stockton Police Announce Massive 7-Ton Illegal Fireworks Bust

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STOCKTON (CBS SF) — A joint investigation in Stockton led to a huge fireworks bust Thursday that culminated in an arrest and the seizure of 14,000 tons of explosives, according to authorities.

Stockton police said that a joint effort that also involved detectives from the Manteca Police Department and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the historic seizure on Thursday, June 28.

Authorities served a search warrant at the residence of 40-year-old Stockton resident Steven Clark, located on the 2400 block of Country Club Boulevard. Police were led to the home from an advertisement officers spotted on Craigslist.

During the search of the home, authorities discovered approximately 14,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, including aerial mortars, Roman candles and various other types of illicit explosives.

stockton illegal fireworks bust 1 Stockton Police Announce Massive 7 Ton Illegal Fireworks Bust

Stockton illegal fireworks bust (Stockton Police Department)

Clark was arrested for a variety of felony charges including possession of a destructive device, possession of a destructive device near a school, advertising for illegal fireworks sales and possession of illegal fireworks for sale (in excess of 5,000 pounds).

Clark was booked at the San Joaquin County Jail.

stockton illegal fireworks bust 2 Stockton Police Announce Massive 7 Ton Illegal Fireworks Bust

Stockton illegal fireworks bust (Stockton Police Department)

The Stockton Police Department is encouraging people to call authorities if they have any information about people who are either selling or in possession of illegal fireworks. Callers can call Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600 and may remain anonymous.

 

San Jose Fireworks Crackdown Features Website To Report Neighbors

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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) — After years of trying to crack down on illegal fireworks in the city, San Jose city has come up with a new plan: a website where people can report fireworks scofflaws.

City officials unveiled another city-wide anti-fireworks ad campaign in Vietnamese, Spanish, and English, with the tag line: snap, click, report.

The city’s online fireworks reporting website now allows you – for the first time ever – to upload photos and videos of your neighbors behaving badly.

“With more people reporting and a system that’s improved for reporting, it does have a deterrent effect,” said San Jose Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow. “If we can deter everybody from using fireworks, then we don’t have to worry about enforcing.”

The city’s battle against fireworks has been a work in progress. Last year, San Jose spent $50,000 on a public outreach campaign, reminding citizens that fireworks are illegal. It included the tagline: “Respect neighbors, veterans, and pets” and was supposed to urge wrongdoers to be more considerate.

It did not work. Video of the San Jose foothills during last Fourth of July evening showed a constant stream of illegal fireworks exploding in the air.

In addition, dozens of people said they were wrongfully issued $500 citations. It turned out that the city’s website just took complaints and mailed out citations without further investigation.

So the city dropped the charges and went back to the drawing board.

“We do something. It’s not perfect. We evaluate how to make the system better. We make what we think are improvements,” said Matlow. “If it didn’t work well, how can we fix the problem, how can we improve it. And you just keep going through that process.”

This year, to bust the wannabe pyro technicians, the individuals in the videos must be identifiable in some way.

Also, the more information you have of the perpetrators, like names, addresses, and so on, the better.

“It can be done anonymously but we prefer that they give us their information so that if we need to do follow up questions we can,” said Matlow. “What’s really important, we don’t want them to put themselves at risk by getting those pictures or videos.”

The first fine for illegal fireworks in San Jose will be $500.

 

San Jose Crackdown Features Website To Report Illegal Fireworks

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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) — After years of trying to crack down on illegal fireworks in the city, San Jose city has come up with a new plan: a website where people can report fireworks scofflaws.

City officials unveiled another city-wide anti-fireworks ad campaign in Vietnamese, Spanish, and English, with the tag line: snap, click, report.

The city’s online fireworks reporting website now allows you – for the first time ever – to upload photos and videos of your neighbors behaving badly.

“With more people reporting and a system that’s improved for reporting, it does have a deterrent effect,” said San Jose Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow. “If we can deter everybody from using fireworks, then we don’t have to worry about enforcing.”

The city’s battle against fireworks has been a work in progress. Last year, San Jose spent $50,000 on a public outreach campaign, reminding citizens that fireworks are illegal. It included the tagline: “Respect neighbors, veterans, and pets” and was supposed to urge wrongdoers to be more considerate.

It did not work. Video of the San Jose foothills during last Fourth of July evening showed a constant stream of illegal fireworks exploding in the air.

In addition, dozens of people said they were wrongfully issued $500 citations. It turned out that the city’s website just took complaints and mailed out citations without further investigation.

So the city dropped the charges and went back to the drawing board.

“We do something. It’s not perfect. We evaluate how to make the system better. We make what we think are improvements,” said Matlow. “If it didn’t work well, how can we fix the problem, how can we improve it. And you just keep going through that process.”

This year, to bust the wannabe pyro technicians, the individuals in the videos must be identifiable in some way.

Also, the more information you have of the perpetrators, like names, addresses, and so on, the better.

“It can be done anonymously but we prefer that they give us their information so that if we need to do follow up questions we can,” said Matlow. “What’s really important, we don’t want them to put themselves at risk by getting those pictures or videos.”

The first fine for illegal fireworks in San Jose will be $500.

San Jose Cracking Down On Illegal Fireworks During New Year’s 2019 Celebrations

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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – With 2019 set to begin, authorities in San Jose are set to crack down on illegal fireworks and impose massive fines for anyone caught setting them off during celebrations to ring in the New Year.

“We need the Community’s assistance to stop illegal fireworks in San Jose,” Fire Chief Robert Sapien Jr. said in a statement earlier this month. “When reporting illegal fireworks activity online, we’re asking residents to provide as much specific information as they can, so we can increase enforcement.”

The city has set up a website to “snap, click and report” violators, where residents can upload photos and videos of their neighbors using illegal fireworks.

Residents can also report illegal fireworks by calling a 24-hour hotline at 408-535-5600. Anyone who spots an active fire should call 911.

First-time violators face a $500 fine, with increased fines for repeat violations within 18 months. Anyone caught selling fireworks faces fines up to $50,000, along with potential jail time.


Illegal Fireworks Cause 2-Alarm Blaze in Antioch

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ANTIOCH (CBS SF) — Firefighters believe illegal fireworks sparked a 2-alarm blaze in eastern Antioch Saturday afternoon which damaged one house and threatened others before crews contained the fire.

The two-alarm fire was reported about 2:15 p.m. Saturday in the 1300 block of Trembath Lane, just north of East 18th Street, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

It started out as a grass fire but damaged one house and destroyed a shed and some wooden fences. But crews from Con Fire and from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District saved six houses nearby from the fire.

The fire was out by about 3 p.m. Saturday. No one was injured.

Fire officials reiterated Saturday that all fireworks are illegal in Contra Costa County.

© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

1,000 Pound Cache of Illegal Fireworks Seized in Redwood City, 3 Arrested

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REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) — More than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks were seized from a Redwood City home this week, police said.

Three men were arrested after the cache was discovered Thursday when detectives were following up on another case at a home in the 3500 block of Hoover Street, according to Redwood City police.

When detectives spotted illegal fireworks at the house, several people tried to get away but were detained. After getting a search warrant, police found more than 1,000 pounds of fireworks in the home and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad assisted with collection, storage and disposal.

Illegal Fireworks Seized

Police seized a cache of illegal fireworks at a Redwood City home. (Redwood City Police Photo)

The quantity and type of fireworks found at the home presented a public safety hazard to residents in the area, the Friendly Acres neighborhood near Highway 101 and Marsh Road, police said.

Jesus Miguel Cuevas, 18, of Redwood City was taken into custody on suspicion of felony possession of dangerous fireworks in excess of 100 pounds, and misdemeanor sale of dangerous fireworks. Cuevas was booked into San Mateo County jail.

Two other suspects, Francisco Alberto Garibay, 21, and Jesus Garibay, 22, both of South San Francisco, were each cited on a misdemeanor violation of sale of dangerous fireworks and released.

All fireworks are illegal in Redwood City and possession and use of them can carry fines of up to $50,000 and substantial jail time.

Anyone with information related to the fireworks seizure is asked to contact Sgt. Russ Felker at (650) 780-7627.

Persons with information about the case or any other case who wish to remain anonymous may leave messages at 1-800-222-TIPS or send the information online at http://www.BayareaCrimestoppers.org.

© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

San Jose Seeks To Curb Illegal Fireworks By Renewing Call To Report On Your Neighbor

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SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — The city of San Jose is once again trying to discourage illegal fireworks use on the Fourth of July holiday by encouraging neighbors to report each other.

“What we’re asking people to do – if it’s safe to do so – is take a picture of the person setting off the fireworks,” said San Jose Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow.

Entering its third year, the city’s fireworks reporting program is making a renewed push to report illegal activity while re-igniting an old debate over its wisdom and effectiveness.

A timelapse image of some of the illegal fireworks over San Jose, July 4, 2017. (Len Ramirez)

“If we have enough information, we’ll investigate the claim and then issue a citation. So, there will be an actual investigation and not just an automatic citation,” said San Jose City Councilmember Johnny Khamis.

The program was widely criticized when it was first unveiled two years for an over-reliance on anonymous reporting as well as citations issued with little or no evidence that were difficult to disprove. The city ended up dismissing the citations issued.

“I was furious. I couldn’t believe that someone could report something online and automatically I’d get a ticket,” said homeowner Amy Guzules in 2017. Guzules successfully petitioned the city to drop citations like the one she received that were based on anonymous and unsubstantiated reports.

The overwhelming majority of reports do not result in citations of any kind. According to the city, only six citations were issued over the Fourth of July holiday in 2018 despite than 3,000 reports.

“Last year, we didn’t cite as many people. But the people who were cited were very guilty,” Khamis said.

San Bruno Police Step Up Crackdown on Illegal Fireworks

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SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — All across the Bay Area there are communities that promise a “zero tolerance” policy on illegal fireworks. In San Bruno, it seems, they really mean it.

“Everyone in the entire department is required to work the Fourth of July in San Bruno,” says Lieutenant Ryan Johansen of the San Bruno police department.

The entire staff is working Thursday and, if it’s anything like last year, they will be busy.

The department made 25 arrests and seized 400 pounds of illegal fireworks on July 4, 2018. Three hundred pounds of that came from just one vehicle.

The issue of fireworks — even the legal ones — is something this community has wrestled with over the years.

“There’s a large contingency that really advocates every year to keep fireworks legal in San Bruno as a matter of tradition and practice,” said Lt. Johansen. “And then there’s the other group that says this is a huge nuisance, a problem for pets, a problem for safety and that they want to stop. So somewhere in between is to continue to allow them and try to enforce the illegal stuff as best we can.”

Residents can buy legal fireworks from the San Bruno Police Officers Association but police also have a hotline for reporting illegal fireworks and even use unmarked surveillance vehicles to catch violators.

“We will put out surveillance teams whose sole purpose is to observe the fireworks being used because they’re a little bit tougher to detect,” Johansen said. “And they’ll send in marked units in uniforms to actually issue citations.”

So, with all of the arrests and citations handed out last year, do police think people will be any more inclined to celebrate by the rules this year?

“You know, I would love to say ‘yes,'” Johansen laughed. “Unfortunately, I think it’s just the people who received the thousand-dollar citations last year that are probably more likely to be safe this year and those who didn’t get caught will wait until they do.”

San Leandro Cops Seize Hundreds of Pounds of Illegal Fireworks

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SAN LEANDRO (KPIX) — San Leandro police had no illusions that their officers would be able to make contact with every person launching illegal fireworks this Fourth of July.

They added extra officers on the street this year along with additional dispatchers to take fireworks-related calls.

Their main focus was on getting large quantities of commercial-grade illegal fireworks off the streets of San Leandro before they hit the black market. Their latest haul: roughly 200 pounds of M-80s and other illegal fireworks found in a vacant car in Washington Manor Park this Independence Day.

San Leandro police spokesman Lt. Robert McManus said the fireworks likely would have been sold on the streets or in local parks had police not intercepted them.

McManus showed KPIX the stash of fireworks as Alameda County bomb squad technicians sorted through them. There were two bags of small, highly-combustible explosive devices which contain a quarter-stick of dynamite each.

“They’re dangerous and the over-pressure on that can really hurt you,” said one technician.

The Independence Day bust was one of two in as many days. On July 2, San Leandro officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a storage facility and discovered two men unloading more than 2,000 pounds of illegal, commercial-grade fireworks.

As McManus patroled the streets of San Leandro looking for people setting off fireworks, he admitted stopping them all can be daunting.

“Generally we drive away and the second we get around the corner, they’re back out in the street again lighting more fireworks off even if we’ve already confiscated what they had,” he said.

But, he said, that won’t keep officers from trying.

Defiant South Bay Fireworks Fans Ignore Law, Fire Risk to Light Up Their Fourth

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SAN JOSE (KPIX) — Across San Jose the sky was lit up with illegal fireworks Thursday despite a renewed push from city leaders to crack down on the Fourth of July tradition.

“I think it should be legal,” said Rosalio Chavoya. “It’s safe. Everybody here, they clean up their mess.”

Chavoya was among dozens in Alviso who set off fireworks in the streets despite the fact that it is against the law.

Last year, piles of debris were left behind in Alviso from fireworks. There was even damage to one car caused by the explosives.

This year, Chavoya armed himself with a broom and was seen cleaning up fireworks after they were set off.

“Last couple of years we’ve been doing this,” said Chavoya. “It’s safe, a family-oriented thing.”

Betty Kesler, who lives near Communications Hill, said she’s witnessed what fireworks could wreak in the wrong hands.

“It scares me when I see the kids, the teenage kids up there,” she said. “We’ve seen them up there throwing fireworks — literally, I took video of them throwing fireworks up — thank God nothing happened at the time.”

This year, San Jose city leaders, as well as firefighters, reminded residents they could take a picture of a person setting off fireworks and send it in to be corroborated before a citation is sent to the person.

There’s also a fireworks hotline where people can report violators.

Those who are cited can be fined up to $1,000.

Despite the push, some said it’s a tradition and not even the law will get in the way of their tradition.

“It’s just a family thing, you know, everybody does clean up their mess,” said Veronica Chavoya. “Everybody is not going to put their kids in danger, it’s all about getting together and family.”

Illegal Fireworks Torch Trees Beside 2 San Jose Homes

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SAN JOSE (KPIX) — Two families had much to be thankful for Friday morning as they surveyed the damage from a fire Thursday night that came breathtakingly close to burning their homes.

The houses in San Jose are separated by a row of about eight juniper trees which caught fire after kids spent the evening setting off fireworks nearby.

A Thursday-night Snapchat video showed an empty Gatorade bottle on the street in front of one of the homes with a large fireworks charge perched on the top. Once lit, the explosion did not travel vertically; instead the bottle tipped over, and the sparks jetted toward the trees but, before hitting them, it shot up into the air.

While the video does not show the trees catching fire, it appears to be one explanation.

“When [juniper trees] get going they’re like roman candles,” said San Jose fire captain Peter Caponio. “I mean they’re very dry and the fire shoots right through ‘em.”

The wall of fire between the two homes raged on at around 11 p.m. Thursday but the San Jose Fire Department was able to get to the scene quickly and prevent damage to the homes. At one house, a car was badly burned and the driveway scorched but both properties and the people in them were unhurt.

“They’re very nice people, very nice people,” said Rosa Williams, who lives in the neighborhood. “To see that happen is awful.”

Today, the street near the homes was littered with debris left over from fireworks. Witnesses to the fire reported seeing kids in the area playing with fireworks before the fire started.

Despite the fact that the department is still investigating the cause of the fire, captain Caponio took the opportunity to remind people, “Enjoy your fireworks at the ballpark and the professional organizations becuse they’re erratic, they’re dangerous.”

Since June 1, the department has received 1,765 reports of illegal fireworks.


East Bay Police Departments Formulate Plan To Crack Down On Illegal Fireworks

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RICHMOND (KPIX) – With the recent significant uptick in the sights and sounds of illegal fireworks across the Bay Area and the country, local police departments say they have received thousands of complaints over the last few months.

Richmond police are working with other departments in Contra Costa County to try and address concerns from residents.

Illegal fireworks shows are lighting up the night sky all over the Bay Area. Some new numbers indicate the nightly shows in the skies are happening in San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland and San Jose.

“It seems to be a lot worse this year than years in the past,” said RIchmond resident Jan Mignone.

Richmond police say over the last three months, it has received more than 1,200 fireworks-related calls. Last month it got more than 400 calls, an 82 percent increase compared to June 2019.

“It’s definitely a Bay Area and nationwide issue, and not just a Richmond issue,” said Richmond Police Lt. Matt Stonebraker.

Along with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office, Richmond, El Cerrito, and San Pablo police departments participated in a regional fireworks roundtable discussion online Wednesday.

“The people that are using them are suffering no consequences for using them or selling them,” said TNT Fireworks spokesperson Dennis Revell.

“Because they are ignited from different areas of the city, it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly where they’re coming from,” said Stonebraker.

“In these communities local law-enforcement and the scope of the problem has gotten so big they’re the only line of defense to stop them,” said Revell.

Some say the uptick is related to ongoing racial justice protests, while others believe it’s related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s hard to say why other than people are probably really bored right now. It’s been what… three-and-a-half months,” said Mignone.

Richmond Police say residents should videotape the fireworks, if possible, and call in with specific information about the locations. It is offering a cash rewards for information leading to confiscations and citations.

Illegal Fireworks Spark 2-Acre Grass Fire in San Francisco Bayview District

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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Crews quickly doused a two-acre grass fire at India Basin Shoreline Park in San Francisco’s Bayview District Thursday afternoon.

The blaze was the result of illegal fireworks, according to the San Francisco Fire Department, which reported there were no structures damaged and no injuries in a series of posts on social media beginning at 5:29 p.m.

Fire departments across the state are scrambling to deal with a slew of blazes sparked by illegal fireworks this year.

South Bay Communities Fear Even Steep Fines Won’t Stop Illegal Fireworks Shows

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SAN JOSE (KPIX) — Police and fire departments across the Bay Area are warning residents they could face fines for lighting off fireworks this year as they continue to see an increase in complaints.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District reported a four-fold increase in fireworks-related calls this year.

Morgan Hill police said on Thursday that fines would triple between July 1 and July 7. The first violation is $300, the second $600 and a third violation runs to $1,500.

Frustration has mounted among residents across the Bay Area and beyond who have taken to social media and neighborhood forums about what appears to be an increase of illegal fireworks being set off this year.

“This year, they’ve been going off like crazy,” said Alviso resident Lissette Dominguez.

Alviso has traditionally seen fireworks displays in the streets as a coordinated neighborhood effort. In 2018, KPIX showed damage to a car by fireworks and piles of debris left behind after the Independence Day holiday.

“Fourth of July has always been a tradition that’s brought people from even out of the little town here,” said Arsenio Rodriguez who grew up in Alviso.

In San Jose, city leaders are again pushing a program created for residents to take a picture or video of a violator and report it online at sanjose.gov/fireworks

In 2018, despite about 1,100 online complaints, only four citations were handed out because of lack of information.

Only time will tell if law enforcement across the Bay Area will crack down even harder this year as more people are expected to stay home because of the pandemic, especially as legal fireworks shows are canceled.

A police source told KPIX that one theory for the increase in illegal fireworks shows is that the legal shows have been called off.

Both Dominguez and Rodriguez believe Alviso residents will continue their tradition of lighting off fireworks this year but they may tone it down because of COVID-19 concerns.

“The gatherings are probably going to be smaller,” said Dominguez.

“I still think people are going to show up,” Rodriguez said. “Just to walk the streets, just to see if anyone is lighting off fireworks.”

Fireworks Ignite Wildfire Near Oak Knoll Golf Links In Oakland Hills

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OAKLAND (CBS SF) — The greatest fear of Oakland firefighters over illegal fireworks became a reality early Sunday as a blaze erupted in the woods near the Oak Knoll Golf Links.

Oakland fire officials posted on Twitter that blaze erupted near Crest Ave. and Fontaine St. at around 3:09 a.m. Arriving crews quickly elevated the response to three alarms as flames were spreading among the trees and brush.

In all 56 firefighters were rushed to the scene to halt the wildfire’s spread.

The fire’s advance was stopped at 2 1/2 acres in the early morning hours with crews remaining on the scene to monitor and extinguish hot spots.

Officials said no structures were threatened and no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was the illegal use of fireworks.

Concerns were elevated as Sunday evening approached with the National Weather Service warning of strong, gusty winds overnight.

Alameda Co. Bomb Squad, Police Seize Illegal Fireworks In Dublin

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DUBLIN (CBS SF) – Hundreds of pounds of illegal fireworks were seized in the East Bay, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

In Dublin, authorities seized a few hundred pounds of illegal pyrotechnics that were not ‘safe and sane.’

“Not a big seizure,” said Alameda Co. Sheriff’s Office a tweet. “But a reminder these are very dangerous and impact vulnerable people and animals. We will have extra patrols out the rest of the week to address firework issues.”

California-sanctioned ‘Safe and Sane Fireworks’ packages are legal in many parts of the state, including Dublin. They include an assortment of fireworks like sparklers and fountains, that stay on the ground and are not projectiles or explosives.

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