South Bay Leader

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is encouraging residents and visitors to celebrate safely this Fourth of July to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.

Fireworks are a Fourth of July staple beloved by many. However, fireworks are not safe in the hands of consumers and cause thousands of injuries each year, the majority of which are suffered by children. Amateur fireworks cause tens of millions of dollars annually in property damage and pose a serious health risk for veterans, people experiencing post-traumatic stress and pets. Fireworks set off in residential neighborhoods, especially those that are loud and unexpected, can trigger flashbacks for veterans and gun violence survivors. The noise also creates panic for many animals and shelters fill with runaway pets every year.

The only safe way to view fireworks is to attend a professional show. The City encourages Long Beach residents and visitors to attend one of the many professional fireworks shows taking place throughout the region. Details for the Long Beach professional show, to be held on July 4 at 9 p.m. along the downtown waterfront, will be available at a later date.

Here’s how residents can get into the patriotic spirit, sans fireworks:

• Host a fireworks-free backyard barbecue with family and friends.
• Connect with neighbors with a permitted block party. Now through Labor Day, residents who request a block party permit and pledge the gathering will be fireworks-free will have all permit fees waived.
• Spend the day at the beach.
• Go for a bike ride, hike or walk.
• Have a water-balloon fight.
• Enjoy an outdoor picnic in the park.
• Host an outdoors movie marathon with family, friends or neighbors.
• Have a fireworks-free backyard dance party with glow sticks, fiber optic wands or noise makers.
• Make a patriotic craft with the family.
• Throw a birthday party for the United States of America, complete with red, white and blue streamers and cake.

Fireworks Enforcement and Reporting Fireworks and Other Illegal Activity

All personal fireworks, including sparklers and those labeled “Safe and Sane,” are prohibited within Long Beach city limits. Under the City’s enhanced fireworks ordinance (Municipal Code Section 18.48.01. and 8.81), if someone ‘hosts’ an event with fireworks – as in property owners, tenants, property managers, landlords or anyone who organizes, supervises, officiates, conducts, controls or is in charge of fireworks activity on a property – they could be held responsible and could be liable for as much as $20,000 in response costs, in addition to other fines.

To prevent firework activity from taking place, the Long Beach Police Department will conduct ongoing, citywide enforcement of illegal firework activity in the weeks and days leading up to and on the Fourth of July. Anyone cited or arrested for fireworks violations may be faced with at least a $1,000 fine and to upwards of $20,000 in response costs, sentenced to jail for six months, or both.

Community members are urged to report firework activity, which can contribute to the City’s enforcement efforts. To report illegal firework usage and sales:

• Submit a fireworks complaint by downloading the updated Go Long Beach App, available on Apple and Android, or directly on the Go Long Beach website. Complaints are sent directly to the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office for investigation.
• Call the non-emergency number at the Communications Center at 562.435.6711 to report fireworks usage and/or sales. For emergencies, always dial 9-1-1.
• Email the LBPD patrol division where the firework activity is occurring and provide any details, such as addresses, videos, license plates, photos, or any other information that can be investigated. Please include your name, address and phone number so that you can be contacted, if necessary:
  • LBPDNorth@longbeach.gov
  • LBPDSouth@longbeach.gov
  • LBPDEast@longbeach.gov
  • LBPDWest@longbeach.gov

The City also reminds the community that “celebratory” gunfire is considered an illegal discharge of a firearm and is very dangerous. Discharging a firearm for celebratory purposes could result in injury or death to anyone struck, and jail time for the offenders.

Driving and Pedestrian Safety

The LBPD will have additional officers on patrol on July 4 to deter drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Alcohol is not the only substance that can impair driving and possibly lead to a DUI; prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana may also affect one’s ability to drive safely. Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license. It is essential to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, or simply stay at home for the night to ensure everyone’s safety.

Distracted driving, identified as anything that takes one’s eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel, also poses a serious threat to people’s safety and should always be avoided. Pedestrians and bicyclists should always maintain strict awareness of their surroundings, especially at night and when crossing streets, even when crossing in a marked crosswalk, to ensure their safety while on the road.

Animal Safety

Every Fourth of July, animal shelters experience a spike of incoming dogs due to pets escaping their homes in fear of fireworks. To help support our fury friends, consider the following, with more information available on the Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Fourth of July webpage.

• ID Tags Are the Ticket Home – Pets can become so frightened during fireworks that they may escape the noise by breaking through windows or door screens. All pets should always wear collars with ID tags. Please ensure your pet's microchips are registered with your current contact information.
• Safer At Home – Pets are more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights and strong smells. It is best to leave your pets safely indoors, preferably with a radio or TV turned on to soften jarring noises.
• Keep Calm – Lower a pet's anxiety with the use of pheromones. These products come in various forms, such as a wipe, spray, collar or diffuser. Allow the pet to experience the pheromones before the actual stress-producing event occurs. You can also play soothing music and sound to help ease pets' anxiety.

Additional recommendations to celebrate safely:

• Grilling Safety – Keep grill well away from the home, deck railings and out from underneath eaves and overhanging branches. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area. Keep grill clean by removing grease buildup from the grills and trays below the grill. Never leave a grill unattended.
• Water Safety – Always supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present, and do not rely on floatation devices. Never swim alone and, when swimming in the ocean, always swim near an open lifeguard station.
• Sun Safety – Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water; apply broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks from both UVA and UVB rays and has a SPF of 15 or higher before going outside; and wear protective hats and sunglasses.
• Heat Exhaustion and Stroke – Be aware of signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If signs of heat stroke are present or loss of consciousness occurs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Never leave a child, adult or pet alone inside a vehicle on a warm day. Additional heat safety information is available at ready.gov/heat.

For more information on pet safety, follow the City’s Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications throughout June on Facebook and Instagram at @LBDisasterPrep.

Media inquiries may be directed to the City of Long Beach Office of Public Affairs & Communications at LongBeachMedia@longbeach.gov.

About the Celebrate Safely Campaign

While the Long Beach Fire Department and Police Department have been educating the community about the fireworks for many years, the City launched the Celebrate Safely campaign in 2019 to provide more information, resources and ongoing safety messaging for the Fourth of July holiday, in addition to several other holidays where fireworks are often used. The campaign has since served as an ongoing platform to educate community members about the importance of participating in safe, family friendly activities. For more information, people may visit longbeach.gov/fireworks.

Original source can be found here.