Pasadena Deploys Nightly Fireworks Suppression Units Ahead of Fourth of July

Pasadena police have deployed dedicated fireworks suppression units nightly for roughly a week leading up to the Fourth of July, focusing solely on enforcing the city’s ban on illegal fireworks, Police Lieutenant Keith Gomez said.

“We have been deploying suppression units nightly for at least the last week, leading up to the Fourth, to make sure that people know that we’re not going to tolerate illegal fireworks,” Gomez said.

Gomez said the city takes enforcement of illegal fireworks “very seriously.”

Despite growing interest in the technology, the department is not using drones to detect fireworks and does not have a drone program in place, Gomez said. He said that when the Pasadena Police Department’s airship is airborne, crews can sometimes spot fireworks being set off from their aerial vantage point and direct officers on the ground to contact those residents.

Under the city’s municipal code, all fireworks remain strictly prohibited in Pasadena, with violators subject to fines of up to $50,000 and as much as one year in County jail. Property owners and tenants are held responsible for permitting the possession, sale, use or discharge of fireworks on their property, and vehicles can be impounded.

The ban applies to all types of fireworks, including hand-held sparklers, which the city notes can reach 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and cause serious burns or fires. City officials have described fireworks as among the most dangerous of all consumer products.

Fire Chief Chad Augustin and Police Chief Gene Harris have urged residents to prioritize safety while celebrating Independence Day. “If You See Something, Say Something, especially for illegal fireworks,” the city says.