Vacaville issues notices warning of illegal fireworks use
The notices are being distributed in neighborhoods where fireworks have been reported in the past.
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
City officials in Vacaville are warning residents about an updated anti-fireworks ordinance that could earn property owners big fines if illegal fireworks are used on their property this year.
This week, several Vacaville residents told Solano NewsNet they found fliers at their homes purporting to be from the City of Vacaville about new fireworks-related regulations.
The notice, which contains emblems of Vacaville’s fire and police departments, say property owners could face fines between $250 and $1,000 if their home or other property is linked to illegal fireworks.
On Wednesday, Vacaville Fire Department Chief Kris Concepcion confirmed to Solano NewsNet that the notices originated with the city. The notices aren’t targeting any specific home; instead, they are being widely distributed in neighborhoods where fireworks use has been reported in past years.
“Since the council adopted the new fireworks ordinance with the fines up to $1,000, we wanted to make sure our residents are aware of it,” Concepcion said by e-mail. “We distributed fliers to neighborhoods where we have observed high fireworks activity in previous years.”
All types of fireworks — including those classified as “safe-and-sane” — are illegal in Vacaville. This year, the city council updated its anti-fireworks ordinance to make property owners liable for illegal fireworks use; before the update, the ordinance limited liability only to the specific person who used them.
City officials said the updated ordinance was necessary to prevent fireworks-related fires in the area. In 2015, a large fire at Keating Park that triggered evacuation orders for several homes was linked to illegal fireworks use.
Residents can contact the City of Vacaville’s Code Enforcement Division at 707-449-5693 for more information about the new ordinance.
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