Yolo County is stepping up its efforts to combat unlawful fireworks use just one month before the July 4 holiday.
For the first time in almost 25 years, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted changes to the county’s unlawful fireworks legislation during its meeting on Tuesday.
Illegal firework use in unincorporated areas of the county used to simply carry a $100 first-time fine; currently, the penalty is ten times larger, at $1,000 per firework offense.
As the county moved to establish its new ordinance, it sought input from the City of Woodland, which is now following suit. Last year, Woodland imposed the new $1,000 fee.
The severe fines, according to the city’s police and fire agencies, are a success because they keep people safe on one of their busiest evenings of the year, July 4.
“We don’t want to have to, between us and the fire department, respond to people significantly injured or, in the case we had several years ago, an entire house burn down,” Sgt. Ryan Bowler with the Woodland Police Department stated.
The increased fine was another way that Woodland Police increased their enforcement.
By enabling neighbors to anonymously report unlawful firework use in their neighborhood, the Nail ‘Em app keeps police dispatch lines free of such calls.
Additionally, before issuing a penalty, Woodland Police began using door hangers to alert homes to possible violations.
It’s against the law in Woodland to light anything that isn’t a “safe and sane” firework. According to the department, illicit fireworks have already been observed this week.
“Last year, we did utilize our drone team on the 4th of July, which was beneficial to see where the fireworks were coming from,” Bowler stated. “We are expanding our drone team in general as a department, so having the opportunity to go out and help with the enforcement of this is critical to the mission of preserving property and preserving lives if somebody is significantly injured.”
According to Woodland Police Department, it issued 33 unlawful firework charges on July 4, 2024, with fines totaling more than $110,000.
This excludes the arrest and criminal citation of a man who was found in possession of 120 unlicensed firework mortars last year and fined an astounding $120,000.
The city is lowering the risk of fire thanks to the new fines.
“I think it does make a difference. It’s decreased calls into our dispatch center, we’ve been able to catch people in the act and in the process of,” Bowler stated.
The crackdown in Yolo County coincides with the start of the fire season. Tuesday, when Woodland Fire personnel rushed to put out a rapidly spreading fire close to E Kentucky Ave. and County Road 102, was the ideal illustration.
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One month before July 4, when pyrotechnics can start accidental fires that can get out of control, this image illustrates what they are now working to prevent.
The new ordinance in Yolo County does more than just increase the penalties. Additionally, it prohibits “safe and sane” pyrotechnics in Cal Fire’s “high” and “very high” risk fire danger zones in the county. According to maps, a large portion of the county west of Esparto is included in the group.
By the July 4 holiday, Yolo County’s new crackdown ordinance should be in force.
According to Woodland Police, citizens can use the Nail ‘Em app and their assigned email line, fireworks@cityofwoodland.gov, to report unlawful pyrotechnics.
