Fireworks sales ignite in Costa Mesa

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- If you think Piccolo Pete and Mad Dog are ex-convicts,

you’re probably not a big fan of fireworks.

But those who enjoy those colorful sparkling showers, lightning

flashes and hazy smoke lights sure flocked to local fireworks stands

Sunday to stock their Fourth of July stash.

More than 50 stands citywide opened their shutters at 9 a.m. Sunday,

in accordance with city law. They will remain open until midnight

Wednesday, the Fourth of July.

Shoppers included those from neighboring towns as well as those who

drove a long way from home just to be able to pick the fireworks they

wanted, to enjoy a little more variety.

Levi Kelly and his wife Sharlene came all the way from Oceanside to

the Youth Services Assn.’s stand on Newport Boulevard to buy their

favorite sparklers and small candles.

“We got the family pack,” Kelly said. “My sister-in-law found this

place over the Internet.” Sharlene Kelly was picking her favorite -- “the

flowers that go up.”

Costa Mesa has allowed fireworks for several years now and officials

say there have been virtually no serious safety-related incidents over

the years except for little dumpster and trash can blazes and the

occasional illegal bottle rocket setting a wood shingle roof on fire.

Anything that is a flying projectile or an explosive is off limits in

Costa Mesa. It is also against the law to light fireworks in any of the

city’s parks.

That’s not much to ask, say residents from other cities that do not

allow fireworks of any kind.

Mike Roberts of Huntington Beach, who was shopping at Vanguard

University’s stand on Fair Drive with his son Brian, said his family has

been enjoying fireworks for many years now. They have to do it with

friends in Costa Mesa since fireworks are banned in Huntington Beach, but

it’s worth it, he says.

“I used to light fireworks when I was a kid and it was a lot of fun,”

Roberts said. “It’s Fourth of July. You have a barbecue and then there’s

fireworks. It’s just something for the whole family to do together.”

Business was brisk Sunday morning, said Karen Bears, a volunteer

operating the Newport Boulevard stand.

“We’re really surprised at the response today,” she said. “This spot

has always been good for us. But today was even better. Since we opened

this morning, we’ve had around 30 customers before noon.”

According to these sellers, popular picks this year include Piccolo

Petes, ground flowers, Mad Dog, Gold Rush and Crackling Cactus.

On the other side of the celebration spectrum, the city now has an

innovative “non-fireworks stand” that sells glowing light sticks, balls,

necklaces and bracelets.

On Sunday, many seemed attracted to the ones that light up and

crackle.

Ariel Anderson, 10, of Costa Mesa, shopped with her mother Denise and

picked out some boxes of Lighting Flash and Smoke Bombs.

“I really, really like the ones that make you like blind after you

light them,” she said with a smile.

Tuesday will most likely be the busiest day, said Bill McKinney who

was operating the Vanguard stand, which raises money for the university’s

girls basketball team.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We’re just getting started.

It’ll pick up.”

The fireworks are priced anywhere between 50 cents a pop and $200 for

The Big One -- a package packing an assortment of firecrackers.

But the expression on your children’s faces when they light up --

that’s priceless, says Kelly.

“It’s the look in their eyes,” said the father of six. “That’s just

wonderful to see.”