The city of Santa Maria’s concerns of illegal fireworks prompted officials to post flyers throughout the city Monday.
Santa Maria officials are concerned about the number of illegal fireworks predicted to go off near the Fourth of July holiday, saying the amount of illegal fireworks that go off this time of year "is staggering."
The city has released a flyer full of information of the dangers of illegal fireworks, in efforts to reduce the high amount of illegal explosions. The average fine for illegally shooting fireworks is $1,000.
"Our fear here with the Santa Maria Fire Department with anybody using any kind of illegal fireworks is definitely bodily harms to themselves or anybody nearby and also the danger that it can have with the numerous residents we have in town," said Mike Farmer, the training battalion chief of the Santa Maria Fire Department.
The Santa Maria Fire Department will have stationed patrols out enforcing laws against illegal firework activity. The only legal fireworks allowed to be set off are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4.
