Illegal Fireworks Busts Report (00021525)

http://www.oc-breeze.com/2015/06/11/72551_huntington-beach-police-and-fire-work-together-on-illegal-fireworks-investigation/

June 11, 2015

Huntington Beach Police and Fire work together on illegal fireworks investigation

Written by: courtesy

On Wednesday May 20, 2015, Special Investigation Bureau detectives initiated an investigation for a subject selling illegal fireworks in Huntington Beach.

Detectives conducted an undercover operation and met with a subject who agreed to sell banned fireworks.

The seller was surveilled from his Huntington Beach residence to a “meet” location.

He was stopped and contacted after the illegal sale.

During a search of his vehicle illegal fireworks were recovered.

Detectives returned to the subject’s residence where additional contraband were recovered.

Huntington Beach Fire Department arson investigators assisted with the investigation. Over a hundred pounds of illegal fireworks were confiscated.

Illegal fireworks seized on May 20, 2015. Photo courtesy of Huntington Beach Police Department.

Santa Ana seizes 650 pounds of illegal fireworks as pre-July 4 crackdown begins

June 3, 2015

Updated June 4, 2015 4:09 p.m.

The undercover operation culminated in the arrests of two people and seizure of more than 650 pounds of illegal fireworks. COURTESY OF SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT

By ALISON GLANDER / STAFF WRITER

1,200 - Degrees that the temperature of sparklers can reach

60 - Percent of all fireworks injuries that happen with 30 days of July Fourth

31 - Percent of injuries caused by sparklers in 2013

Undercover officers in Santa Ana seized more than 650 pounds of illegal fireworks this week as part of a crackdown on the sale of illegal fireworks as July Fourth approaches.
“Every year the sale, purchase and use of illegal fireworks is a problem in this city,” Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
The SAPD each year cracks down on fireworks because of increased fires and injuries as the Fourth of July nears.
Through the use of social media platforms, undercover officers with the SAPD’s Special Enforcement Team contacted two separate individuals and arranged to purchase illegal and dangerous fireworks. Two people were arrested as a result of the operation and face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, Bertagna said.
According to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, 60 percent of fireworks injuries occur during the 30 days surrounding the July Fourth.
However, so-called safe and sane fireworks are legal in Santa Ana and eight other cities in Orange County – Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Westminster, Garden Grove, Stanton, Buena Park, Villa Park and Fullerton.
In California, every type of firework approved for sale as “safe and sane” has to be tested and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Despite being marketed as “safe and sane,” these fireworks are still dangerous, according to OCFA Capt. Shane Sherwood.
“Safe and sane” fireworks, such as sparklers and fountains, do not leave the ground, shoot projectiles into the air or explode.
Sparklers can reach 1,200-2,000 degrees and can cause third-degree burns. According to the consumer commission, sparklers caused 31 percent of fireworks injuries in 2013.
Sherwood said the worsening drought in Orange County could increase the fire hazards associated with fireworks.
“If you’re at all in an urban interface, you need to act with caution,” he said. “Any small spark that is set off from a firework has the potential to start a greater fire.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2011, fireworks caused an estimated 17,800 fires, including 1,200 total structure fires, 400 vehicle fires and 16,300 outside and other fires. About eight people died and 40 were injured from those fires.
It’s important to exercise caution even when using fireworks labeled as “safe and sane,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood advises to keep fireworks away from walls and plants and to use them in the middle of a street. He also advises to keep a bucket of water nearby to soak the discharge and ensure the firework is fully cooled before throwing it away. Never try to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
And as a reminder, there are several public firework displays around Orange County that you can watch instead of using your own.

New ad campaign to target illegal fireworks in Salinas

Erika Mahoney, Reporter/Producer,

POSTED:06:36PMPDTJun03,2015 UPDATED:10:55AMPDTJun04,2015

ALINAS, Calif. -

Fourth of July is just about a month away, but complaints are already rolling in about illegal fireworks going off in neighborhoods across Salinas.

More from Central Coast News

It's a huge problem every year, and even more so during the drought.

"You know it's going to come down, but you don't know where. That's the bad part," said South Salinas resident Robert Bramman about fireworks.

Bramman still remembers a horrible firework accident in his neighborhood five years ago. One house burned to the ground, and three more were damaged.

Already this year, the Salinas Fire Department has received several complaints about illegal fireworks.

"Anything that flies in the air, anything that goes boom or bang, is an illegal firework," Salinas Fire Battalion Chief Brett Loomis said.

Loomis said it's a community issue: "We have numerous grass fires every year."

Plus, they're dangerous. Loomis said an M-80, even though it looks small, has the power to blow someone's hand off.

The M-80 looks a lot like a legal one, known as 'safe and sane'. Those are allowed in designated areas of Salinas.

But it's easy to tell the difference between legal and illegal -- all legal ones have a round seal.

During the second week of June, a new ad campaign reminding people to not use illegal fireworks will be on city buses. There will also be public service announcements on the radio and TV.

On July 4th, Salinas firefighters will increase their response. But until then, they hope people can be their eyes and ears.

Here are some more fireworks tips:

-If you want to hand over illegal fireworks, don't just leave them on the doorsteps of a fire department. Make sure you talk with someone so the proper measures can be taken.

-The older a firework is, the more unstable and potentially dangerous it is. The Salinas Fire Department has had to call out the bomb squad in cases where the fireworks are old.

-Even 'safe and sane' fireworks can be dangerous, or start fires. Make sure you're in a place where you're allowed to use them, and make sure parents light them, not children.

County fire makes big illegal fireworks bust

06/10/2015 12:15 PM

06/10/2015 12:20 PM

BAKERSFIELD, CA-County fire investigators say discovered a cache of illegal fireworks at a home in east Bakersfield Wednesday morning.
County fire says the seized 350 pounds of non safe and sane fireworks.
Investigators laid out what appeared to be dozens of different types on the front lawn of the home on Le Conte Avenue near Bakersfield Country Club.
Some appeared to be Roman Candles.
Neighbors who watched this morning's bust go down say illegal fireworks are an issue in the neighborhood.
Investigators issued a criminal citation.

Montclair man suspected of selling fireworks freed from jail

By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Posted: 06/11/15, 3:43 PM PDT | Updated: 3 days ago

MONTCLAIR > A 27-year-old man was out of custody Friday after being arrested on suspicion of possessing about 2,000 pounds of fireworks at his home.

An anonymous individual contacted police Tuesday, saying a man in the 10500 block of Oak Glen Avenue was selling fireworks out of his house.

Officers responded and arrested Francisco Armas at his Montclair home that evening.

Police said Armas had 2,080 pounds of bottle rockets, mortars, firecrackers and other fireworks. The weight includes packaging.

All fireworks are illegal to possess in Montclair.

Armas was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of possessing fireworks and intent to sell them, according to police. He has been released on bail, booking records show. Armas has not been charged, and no court date has been scheduled.

After discovering the fireworks, police called the Ontario Fire Department’s Bomb Squad to remove boxes of fireworks from Armas’ home.

http://baldwinpark.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/lasd-bust-suspect-for-1760-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-in-san-gabriel-valley-baldwinpark

LASD Bust Suspect for 1,760 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks in San Gabriel Valley

Posted byMichelle Mowad(Editor) ,May 12, 2014 at 09:32 PM

Photo Courtesy: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

On Monday, May 11, at approximately5 p.m., while patrolling the area of Merced Avenue and Remer Street, South El Monte, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Temple Sheriff’s Station saw the driver of a van perform an unsafe lane change and run a red light.

Deputies immediately conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the driver, Edwin Hernandez, a 28 year-old male resident of Wilmington, was driving on a suspended license and placed him under arrest.

Subsequent to Hernandez’ arrest, 22 cases of illegal fireworks, each of which weighed 80 pounds, were discovered in his van.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Arson Investigator Dahlmeier, the total amount of 1,760 pounds (nearly one ton) of illegal fireworks discovered in the van seen driving in an unsafe manner through the city of South El Monte was enough to blow a house off of its foundation.

Hernandez was booked at Temple Sheriff’s Station for Possession of Illegal Fireworks For Sale, and is being held in lieu of $25,000.

LaCoFD Arson investigators took possession of the illegal fireworks and will be conducting the investigation.

—Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/11/2-women-arrested-after-authorities-find-275-pounds-of-illegal-fireworks-in-downtown-la-plaza/

2 Women Arrested After Authorities Find 250 Pounds Of Illegal Fireworks At ChinatownStore

June 11, 2014 10:20 PM

EL MONTE (CBSLA.com)— El Monte police detectives arrested two women after seizing 250 pounds of illegal fireworks at a Chinatown store.

Lana Sieu Ngu, 43, and Ngoc Pham, 45, were taken into custody during a raid of a shop at 828 Broadway, El Monte police Lt. Christopher Williams said.

The suspects were expected to be booked on suspicion of possession of a destructive device and sale of explosives.

Authorities were not as concerned with the size of the bust, but with the product that was being sold—M-1000 explosives.

“Basically, an M-1000 is equated to about a quarter-stick of dynamite,” Williams said. “So you can imagine the amount of damage that could do.”

Williams added, “In some cases, the people who sell this take no obligation or no understanding that they might be selling to somebody that doesn’t understand the level of damage it can cause.”

The fireworks bust was part of a larger operation by El Monte police, who last week seized 22 tons of illegal fireworks from a warehouse in Gardena.

“We’re not over. It’s going to continue until the Fourth of July,” Williams said.

KCAL9’s Kristine Lazar reports that the fireworks are made in China and imported to the U.S.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/6-in-custody-after-seizure-of-18-tons-of-illegal-fireworks-in-gardena/

6 In Custody After Seizure Of 18 Tons Of Illegal Fireworks InGardena

June 4, 2014 10:13 AM

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(credit: El Monte Police Department)

GARDENA (CBSLA.com)— Six people were in custody Wednesday in connection with the seizure of about 18 tons of illegal fireworks found in a Gardena warehouse, police said.

El Monte police investigating the sale and distribution of illegal fireworks were led Tuesday to the warehouse in the 13000 block of Halldale Avenue in Gardena, where they served a search warrant and discovered dozens of boxes of contraband fireworks.

Gardena police and the Los Angeles County Fire Department assisted with the investigation.

http://www.templecitytribune.com/current-news/temple-city-deputies-bust-suspect-for-nearly-one-ton-of-illegal-fireworks-possession/

Temple City Deputies Bust Suspect for Nearly One Ton of Illegal Fireworks Possession

On Monday, May 11, 2014, at approximately5:00 p.m., while patrolling the area of Merced Avenue and Remer Street, South El Monte, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Temple Sheriff’s Station saw the driver of a van perform an unsafe lane change and run a red light.
Deputies immediately conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the driver, Edwin Hernandez, a 28 year-old male resident of Wilmington, was driving on a suspended license and placed him under arrest.
Subsequent to Hernandez’ arrest, 22 cases of illegal fireworks, each of which weighed 80 pounds, were discovered in his van.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LaCoFD), Arson Investigator Dahlmeier, the total amount of 1,760 pounds (nearly one ton) of illegal fireworks discovered in the van seen driving in an unsafe manner through the city of South El Monte was enough to blow a house off of its foundation.
Hernandez was booked at Temple Sheriff’s Station for Possession of Illegal Fireworks For Sale, and is being held in lieu of $25,000.
LaCoFD Arson investigators took possession of the illegal fireworks and will be conducting the investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Arson Investigator Dahlmeier at(626) 433-1011. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the websitehttp://lacrimestoppers.org.

http://www.coronadelmartoday.com/42387/home/authorities-detain-juvenile-in-illegal-fireworks-case/

Authorities Detain Juvenile in Illegal Fireworks Case

posted: April 14th, 2014 02:23 pm |0No Comments

A Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators used CraigsList to track illegal fireworks to a Newport Beach house over the weekend, according to a news release. Officials also detailed a 15-year-old Newport Beach boy for possession of illegal fireworks on Sunday, the release said.

“After the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Arson Unit arrested an illegal fireworks manufacturer in Glendora, CA, subsequent investigation lead them to a Craigslist ad showing similar illegal fireworks for sale in the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area,” the release said. “Undercover personnel from LACoFD contacted the seller and arranged a meeting for a ‘buy-and-bust’ operation.”

The Newport Beach Police Department, the Newport Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad assisted, the release said.