By Cheryl Winkelman
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
Four fires in Manteca already have been set by the misuse of safe and sane fireworks since last week. The first occurred only hours after residents could officially begin to buy and ignite them on June 28, fire officials said.
Safe and sane fireworks emit a shower of sparks, a bright light or smoke.
Roman candles, bottle rockets or anything that explodes, shoots, rises in the air or travels along the ground is prohibited.
City-authorized booths began selling fireworks at noon June 28. Booths close at midnight tonight, when people are no longer allowed to set off fireworks.
The first fire, a grass fire on W. Center Street near the railroad tracks, occurred at about 8:30 p.m. June 28, Randy Sutton, the citys fire marshal, said.
The next two fires occurred Saturday. One was near Union Road on Highway 120; the other was at Main Street and Highway 120.
Both were caused by a ground bloom flower, a firework that spins on the ground in a flower pattern, emitting sparks that change color.
The lit fireworks were apparently tossed out of a window, Sutton said. They then ignited dry grass.
A fourth fire, on Sunday, was caused by fireworks that were too close to combustibles in a garage. The fire was quickly extinguished by the property owner, Sutton said.
About $600 worth of damage was done to the garage, and $100 worth of damage was done to the garages contents. The three grass fires consumed less than an acre of grass, Sutton said.
Last year, the first year safe and sane fireworks were available in Manteca, four fireworks-related firesoccurred, Sutton said. But residents still have all of today to set off fireworks.
Sutton urged people to ignite fireworks in driveways, away from combustibles, paper, cardboard and flammable liquids.
Also, dont throw them in dry grass, he said. And those who plan to attend Mantecas city-sponsored fireworks display at 9 p.m. at the Sierra High School park area, 1700 Thomas St., will not be permitted to set off their own fireworks at the festivities.
Personal fireworks can only be ignited on private property -- not on city streets, in parks or on public right-of-ways.
We have teams of officers watching for the illegal and improper use of fireworks, Rex Osborn, Mantecas Police spokesman, said.
Police have already confiscated 580 pounds of illegal fireworks, Osborn said.
Fireworks of any kind are prohibited in Lathrop and Tracy.
Ill be out patrolling, James Monty, Lathrops fire chief, said of Independence Day.
He said some residents buy fireworks outside the city, then set them off in Lathrop.
Tracy fire officials could not be reached for comment.