CC 2015-08-25_11a Status Report_Sale and Use of FireworksMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEPHEN C. LIEBERMAN, FIRE CHIEF FCFA
STEVEN N. ANNIBALI, POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT REGARDING THE SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS
DATE: AUGUST 25, 2015
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council receive the status report regarding the sale and use
of fireworks and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND:
As a follow-up to City Council communications with the community related to the recent
July 4th holiday, staff was requested to present statistical information related to the sale
and use of "safe and sane" fireworks (approved by the California State Fire Marshall),
along with information regarding requests for service related to the use of both legal and
illegal fireworks.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Sale and use of "Safe and Sane" Fireworks in the City of Arroyo Grande
Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 governs the sale and use of legal fireworks within the City.
The program is managed by the Five Cities Fire Authority. A maximum number of six (6)
non-profit organizations are permitted to sell fireworks annually. In 2014, six non-profit
organizations generated a total profit of $62,701.82 with three of the groups netting
$15,000.00 each. Through the application process, non-profit groups have been pre-
identified for 2016-2019 with a list of those organizations attached to this report.
Within San Luis Obispo County, the following communities allowed the use of State Fire
Marshall-approved fireworks in 2015:
City of Arroyo Grande
City of Grover Beach
City of Morro Bay (limited to use on private property)
Oceano Community Services District
San Miguel Community Services District
Templeton Community Services District
Item 11.a. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS
AUGUST 25, 2015
PAGE2
Use of illegal fireworks
Illegal fireworks, commonly described as "any firework that flies into the air, darts across
the ground or explodes," were discharged in Arroyo Grande, as well as Grover Beach
and Oceano. These explosive devices continue to be a concern due to the associated
risk of human injury and fire threat. The use of these devices in Hollister (San Benito
County) during a neighborhood block party resulted in a malfunction that caused
multiple injuries.
Public Safety Impacts/Data
Five Cities Fire
There was additional staffing during the evening of July 3rd by the Fire Chief. Staffing
was augmented on July 4th with an additional engine company, and all three chief level
officers on patrol. Call volume was consistent with past years (summary document
attached), and the only significant call classified as a "fire" was for a possible transient
camp fire in the open space off of James Way. There were no reported medical calls
related to the use of fireworks.
Arroyo Grande Police Department
During the holiday beginning the evening of July 3rd and continuing to the early hours of
July 5th the Arroyo Grande Police Department responded to more than 189 calls for
service. These included more than 11 fights I disturbances; an assault; 5 thefts; 2
burglaries; 8 suspicious persons/vehicles; 5 drunk driving arrests; 27 traffic stops;
several drunks; two runaway juveniles; 2 traffic accidents; a death investigation and a
host of other calls, including 27 calls for illegal fireworks. No citations were issued for
the municipal code violation related to fireworks. With limited patrol resources, officers
had to prioritize their responses based on potential severity.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council's consideration:
Receive and file report with no additional action;
Provide direction to Staff related to the future sale of legal fireworks;
Provide direction to Staff related to funding the additional resources required to
adequately enforce the restriction prohibiting illegal fireworks.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The agenda was mailed to community non-profit organizations included on the Five
Cities Fire Authority Eligibility List. The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on
Thursday, August 20, 2015. The Agenda and report were posted on the City's website
on Friday, August 21, 2015.
Item 11.a. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS
AUGUST 25, 2015
PAGE3
Attachments:
1. Five Cities Fire Authority Fireworks Eligibility List
2. Five Cities Fire Authority Calls for Service Summary
3. Fox News Report -Hollister Fireworks Injuries
Item 11.a. - Page 3
ATTACHMENT 1
FIVE CITIES FIRE AUTHORITY
Fireworks Eligibility List
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
2016 PERMITS
1 Kiwanis Club of Arroyo Grande Valley
2 Arroyo Grande Valley Little League
3 BSA Troop 234
4 Camp Fire Council of the Central Coast
5 Coastal Christian School
6 Central Coast Celebration Chorus
2017 PERMITS
1 Central Coast Condors
2 American Legion Auxiliary Unit #136
3 Five Cities Girls Softball Association
4 AGHS Eagle Robotics Team
5 Five Cities Youth Football League, Inc.
6 Arroyo Grande High School Eagle Boosters
2018 PERMITS
1 Arroyo Grande Optimist Club
2 New Hope Foursquare Church
3 Gospel Lighthouse
4 Arroyo Grande High School Band Boosters
5 Arroyo Grande in Bloom
6 Knights of Columbus Council No. 1375
2019 PERMITS
1 American Legion Post 136
2 American Youth Soccer Organization
3 Exchange Club of the Central Coast
4
5
6
Rev. 07/15/2015
Item 11.a. - Page 4
ATTACHMENT 2
Five Cities Fire Authority
July 4th Response Summary
2011-2015
2011 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total Auto/
AG GB OCE FCFA Mutual Aid
Fire 2 2
EMS 1 4 2 7 2
Hazardous
Conditions
Service & 1 1 2 Good Intent
False Alarm
TOTAL-1 6 3 10 4 FCFA
2012 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total Auto/
AG GB OCE FCFA Mutual Aid
Fire 1 2 3
EMS 1 1 2
Hazardous
Conditions
Service & 1 1 2 Good Intent
False Alarm
TOTAL-3 3 6 2 FCFA
2013 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total Auto/
AG GB OCE FCFA Mutual Aid
Fire
EMS 5 5 1
Hazardous
Conditions
Service & 2 2 4 Good Intent
False Alarm
TOTAL-7 2 9 1 FCFA
Item 11.a. - Page 5
2014 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total Auto/
AG GB OCE FCFA Mutual Aid
Fire 1 1
EMS 3 4 7 3
Hazardous 1 1 Conditions
Service & 3 3 Good Intent
False Alarm
TOTAL-0 3 9 12 3 FCFA
2015 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Total Auto/
AG GB OCE FCFA Mutual Aid
Fire 1 1 2
EMS 1 4 5
Hazardous
Conditions
Service & 2 2 Good Intent
False Alarm
TOTAL-2 4 3 9 0 FCFA
Item 11.a. - Page 6
Illegal fireworks injures 5 at California block party, suspected in some destructive fires/ F ... Page 2of3
Illegal fireworks injures 5 at California block party, suspected
in some destructive fires
Pubr1shed Juli' 05 2015 I Associated Prass
LOS A"lGELES -Illegal fireworks were believed to have ignited fires that threatened homes and destroyed property In several
locations, as well as caused an explosion at a block party that sent at least five people to the hospital, authonbes across California
said Sunday as they assessed damages and injunes from the July Fourth celebration.
In the city of Hollister, a man was arrested on suspicion of setting off a large mortar during a block party Saturday night Once ht,
the device fell over and shot projectiles into a crowd, hitting several people, police said.
ATTACHMENT 3
A child was flown to a San Francisco Bay area hospital with severe lnjunes, several children suffered moderate to severe bums and
one person had a possible broken leg.
"This incident is a grim reminder of the dangers of fireworks. Some of these children will be scarred for life," Hollister's police chief,
OaVld Westnck, said in a statement
Shawn Gregory Bourdet, 35, told officers he was responsible for what happened and was arrested at the scene, the statement said
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators suspect Illegal fireworks sparked a fire that caused minor injunes to four
firefighters and caused up to $3 million In damage to three warehouses
They said witnesses reported seeing a group of young men shoot fireworks at mattresses outside one of the warehouses in an
industnal area of South Los Angeles. The lire spread to the Inside and several nearby buildings.
Fireworks debris was found at the scene, authorities said.
"They said It's a total loss," Daniela Avila, who works at a fumHure company owned by her boyfriend, told KABC-TV.
"This Is our second home, if anything our first home. We spent more time here than at our fYoNn home so this Is hard," Avila said.
In Northern California, officials said fireworks may have started a wildfire that burned more than 320 acres and threatened homes In
the city of Vacaville.
The fire started near a park Saturday night and embers were quickly spread by winds that gusted to 40 mph, said Mark Mazzaferro,
a spokesman for the city between San Francisco and Sacramento.
"It's bone dry out there," Mazzaferro said. ''Talk about a recipe for a big lire.•
About 125 people left their homes in voluntary evacuations Several homes were threatened, but no structures were burned, he
said.
A crew of at least 130 firefighters worked throughout the night to battie the blaze. Witnesses reported seeing someone playing with
fireworks In the park shortly before the fire began, Mazzaferro said.
Further north In the Rio Linda area of Sacramento, a grass fire threatened several homes, damaged five outbuildings and 1 o cars
and burned about SIX acres, the Sacramento Metro Fire District said
One firefighter was hospitalized aner suffenng a muscular Injury while battling the blaze.
KHTK-TV reports authonties confirmed Sunday that the lire was caused by fireworks.
URL
http://WW\\·.foxnews.com/us/2015/07 /05/illegal-fireworks-injures-5-at-califomia-block-par. .. 8/13/2015
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