Andrew EdwardsSelling fireworks for the Fourth of...

Andrew Edwards

Selling fireworks for the Fourth of July is a short-term business in

Costa Mesa, where people running the 28 fireworks stands scattered

across the city have only four days to deal their wares before it’s

time to pack up until next year.

For many of the nonprofit groups allowed to operate fireworks

stands, those few days spent selling pyrotechnic fountains -- such as

Patriotic Powerblast and Sting of the Scorpion -- are key to their

fundraising efforts.

“I know it’s a controversial program, but a lot of the youth

groups -- the high school groups -- they wouldn’t be allowed to run

their programs without the fireworks,” said Jody Wagner, treasurer

for the Costa Mesa High School Band Boosters.

The Band Booster’s fireworks stand raked in about $19,000 last

year, Wagner said. It was about half of the funds her group needed

for the year, and she expected this year’s sales figures would reach

a similar mark.

Jeff Sankey, who is in charge of the fireworks stand benefiting

the Estancia High School Football Boosters, agreed with Wagner’s

remarks that youth programs rely heavily on fireworks sales. He said

the Eagles’ football team needs fireworks revenue for uniforms,

trainers and coaches stipends.

“It takes an extreme burden off the school,” Sankey said.

Costa Mesa’s fireworks regulations are designed to help youth

groups, with more than half of the organizations on the city’s list

of stand operators being booster clubs for high school sports teams.

But despite the apparent financial benefit for the nonprofit groups,

not everyone in town is happy with fireworks sales.

In May, the Costa Mesa City Council received a petition bearing

almost 200 signatures asking for a ban on fireworks sales. The

petition argued that small-scale fireworks displays pose a safety

hazard, are bad for animals and become a litter problem after the

flames burn out. Judy Vickers, the city official in charge of

fireworks stands, would not be surprised if fireworks opponents

continue to press their case in the future. “It’s such a hot topic,”

Vickers said.

Stanton, Garden Grove, Buena Park and Santa Ana are the only other

Orange County cities that allow people to light their own fireworks,

according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Fireworks are not

allowed in Newport Beach.

But in Costa Mesa, stand operators have high hopes for this year’s

fireworks sales. Just keeping a stand stocked requires 500 to 600

fireworks, Estancia booster Sankey said. And since the Fourth of July

falls on a Monday, Sankey was hoping for a busy season. This year,

stands were able to begin selling pyrotechnics Friday, allowing them

to be open through the holiday weekend.