Be Safe This Fourth of July!
By City Manager Ken Striplin
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 19,000 fires are started by fireworks each year across the United States. This year, California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in history and after a dry winter, much of the brush that grows on our surrounding mountains and hills has become increasingly dry and brittle. As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, I want to urge all of our residents to never light fireworks or explosive materials. Not only can this lead to catastrophic damage to our homes and community, but the noise alone can cause anxiety for veterans and lead pets to run away from their homes in fear.
The safety of our residents is and always will be our top priority, whether that is in regards to fires or injuries. In 2020, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 15,600 people were treated in emergency rooms for firework injuries. Of those injuries, 44% were burns to the eyes, head, face, ears, hands and fingers. Many of these injuries stemmed from the use of firecrackers and sparklers. What may look to be a fun and danger-free celebration can actually cause irreversible damage to our residents.
While fireworks may look magnificent, the noise can cause fear for many throughout our community. Veterans with combat PTSD are silent victims of fireworks, so please be considerate of your neighbors who have already given so much to our nation. Additionally, many of our four-legged friends become so scared from the fireworks explosions that they run away from their homes. July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters due to dogs and cats who were frightened by fireworks. To refrain from untold damage to our veterans and animals, please don’t light fireworks this holiday season.
In Santa Clarita, all fireworks are illegal, this includes the unincorporated areas of Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Tesoro del Valle and Val Verde. Residents can report illegal fireworks by calling the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 260-4000 or by entering it into the City’s Resident Service Center at santa-clarita.com/RSC. Please note that a report will not result in an immediate response. Your reports are crucial to helping our local Sheriff’s Department identify hotspots in our community. Santa Clarita residents can also get a $500 reward for reporting illegal fireworks to the Sheriff’s Station. If you have a life-threatening emergency, you should dial 9-1-1.
Rather than light your own fireworks, I invite all of our residents to come to the City of Santa Clarita’s Fireworks Show at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. Professionals will light up the night sky and allow everyone to sit back in their chairs and enjoy a safe, family-friendly show. The event will begin at 9:15 p.m. For more information about firework safety and resources, please visit santa-clarita.com/Fireworks. I wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.
Ken Striplin is Santa Clarita’s City Manager and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
