Authorities will be alert for holiday

Lolita Harper

While many in this coastal community will be striking up the barbecue

and enjoying the last few days of the conventional season of

recreation, area public safety officials will do their best to ensure

that nobody gets smacked in the face when residents excitedly let

their proverbial hair down.

Spokesmen from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police and fire

departments said things stay pretty normal around the stations during

holiday weekends, but public safety officials are sure to keep a keen

eye out for trouble.

Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney said Friday that officers never

know what to expect from Labor Day weekend because it depends on

whether people stay close to home or decide to travel.

“Sometimes, calls do increase ... and sometimes, it’s an absolute

ghost town because everybody has decided to take off somewhere,”

Birney said.

Despite a sudden 30-cent rise in the average price of gas, a press

release from the AAA reports holiday travel is still expected to be

heavy. News that may mean a slow weekend for area law enforcement

officials.

Unless those people are all heading down the Costa Mesa Freeway

for family get-togethers. Then it can get messy, Birney said, citing

an all-too-common recipe for revelry. Often with celebratory holidays

comes booze, he said. Add some rowdy in-laws and a pinch of

unresolved family issues and you’ve got a risky cocktail.

“Like around Christmas time, when families are often together, you

mix that with alcohol and sometimes, you have a potential problem,”

the police spokesman said.

Police spokesmen from both cities did not report any known

drunken-driving checkpoints for the holiday weekend.

Fire officials offered general cautions about barbecuing and the

combination of hot, dry weather, lighter fluid and a match. Stations

traditionally receive a few calls in the summer of billowing smoke

that turned out to be merely backyard cookouts when firefighters

arrived on scene. But still, people can never be too careful,

officials said.

Costa Mesa Battalion Chief Chris Riley reminded residents to allow

only adults to light the grill, always check the propane tank for

leaks, follow all appropriate instructions, go easy on the lighter

fluid and keep the grill away from flammable objects.

“Basically, just use common sense,” Riley said.