July 4 patrols upped

Costa Mesa plans on spending an additional $15,000 to pay extra police and fire officers to crack down on fireworks before, during and after the Fourth of July this year as part of a City Council effort to curb illegal fireworks use.

The city is one of five in the county that still allows the sale and discharge of “safe and sane” fireworks, and the booths set up around town provide a large portion of the funding for many youth sports teams.

Representatives of many of these sports teams spoke out a few months ago when the council started considering banning all fireworks in the city.

Councilwoman Wendy Leece brought up the subject, saying Costa Mesa looked like a “war zone” as she drove around last July 4.

“It is a reality that we should maybe put a moratorium on fireworks,” Leece said. “And of course that’s alarming to many youth groups that use the stands to raise a lot of money.

“We met many of the people who have the stands, and I think that they’re pretty aware that their time is limited,” Leece said.

Groups often make about $10,000 to $20,000 from fireworks sales and use that money to buy their equipment, bankroll their trips, or pay fees.

These groups need to look into other methods of making money, Leece said.

Police and fire officials say the Fourth of July often brings a lot of service calls. Police Special Events Coordinator Tony Yannizzi estimates authorities received about 400 calls on July 4 last year.

Most of these complaints are for people lighting illegal fireworks or discharging fireworks at inappropriate times, he said.

“We’ve had very little property damage and no major injuries that I know of as a result of the fireworks in the past years,” Fire Battalion Chief Scott Broussard said.

Broussard and Yannizzi said last year was not unusually dangerous or damaging in the city, but council members wanted their respective departments to concentrate on making their presence felt in the community.

Only fireworks labeled “safe and sane” are allowed in Costa Mesa, and they may be discharged only from 4 to 10 p.m. July 4. Fireworks aren’t allowed in city parks.

For more photos, click here.

Organization Name Stand Location

AYSO Region 120 - 17th 289 E. 17th St.

AYSO Region 120 280 Bristol St.

AYSO Region 120 - Newport 2620 Newport Blvd.

AYSO Region 120 - Placentia 2145 Placentia Ave.

California School Foundation 2252 Fairview Rd.

Costa Mesa High School Aquatics 2750 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa High School Band/Color Guard 3011-23 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa High School Baseball Boosters 1097 Baker St.

Costa Mesa High School Boys Basketball Boosters 1154 Sunflower

Costa Mesa High School Cheer Boosters 740 W. Wilson St.

Costa Mesa High School Football Boosters 610 W. 18th St.

Costa Mesa High School Girls Basketball 1085 Baker St.

Costa Mesa High School Girls Soccer 2200 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa Pop Warner 2300 Harbor Blvd.

Estancia High School Aquatic Boosters 2150 Placentia Ave.

Estancia High School Band Boosters 2949 Fairview Rd.

Estancia High School Boys Basketball Boosters 380 E. 17th St.

Estancia High School Boys Soccer Boosters 1720 Superior Ave.

Estancia High School Football Boosters 1175 Baker St.

Estancia High School Girls Soccer Boosters 1700 Adams Ave.

Estancia High School Golf Boosters 1525 Mesa Verde Dr. East

Estancia High School Tennis Boosters 2930 Bristol St.

Newport Harbor High School Baseball Boosters 253 E. 17th St.

Newport Harbor High School Boys Basketball 495 E. 17th St.

Newport Harbor High School Football Boosters 803 W. 19th St.

Newport Harbor High School Girls Basketball Boosters 3029 Harbor Blvd.

Newport Harbor High School Girls Softball Team 145 E. 19th St.

Newport Harbor High School Roller Hockey 2180 Harbor Blvd.

Orange Coast College Foundation 233 E. 17th St.

Prince of Peace School 3010 Harbor Blvd.

Vanguard University Womens Basketball 55 Fair Dr.

Youth Services Association of Orange County 2180 Newport Blvd.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.