Residents fume over fireworks

Law enforcement is difficult because the city allows the sale of "safe and sane" fireworks as community fund-raisers for nonprofits and new and more powerful illegal fireworks are becoming commonplace. Often, people mask their illegal fireworks with legal ones when police check up on them.

"I fear for the safety of the community. We just skated by this year," Mayor Larry Franzella said.

Franzella was part of the council that voted to allow community organizations to continue the sale of safe and sane fireworks a few years ago. However, Franzella said he's now rethinking his stance and called for a special meeting to discuss the city ordinance. So far, it looks like the City Council has two members in favor of keeping the fireworks and two not. Councilman Ken Ibarra was not at last night's meeting.

At the meeting, police, fire and public works officials along with about a dozen neighbors painted a troubling picture of a night littered with high-powered fireworks.

The evening of July 4, people on a corner of Atlantis Street threw M-80s at fire trucks responding to a structure fire. Later that night, two boys were taken to the hospital after a lead pipe packed with high-powered fireworks exploded on Madison Street. One boy suffered serious wounds to his leg and shrapnel was injected into a number of nearby cars.

"It's dangerous and something has to happen," said San Bruno hills resident Dave Dornlas. "I think it's about time we put a stop to this."

Dornlas started a Web site at www.sbfireworks.com with pictures of the fireworks and a link to e-mail all council members.

His neighbor, Louise Johns, attended a friend's party a few blocks from her home where she watched an impressive fireworks display in the sky. It wasn't until she went home that she realized the fireworks were being launched from the back yard of her neighbor's home on Trenton Drive.

The party was on Trenton Drive, near the city's greenbelt. The party attracted about 50 people who were setting off fireworks in the back and front yards. Kids were playing baseball with lit fireworks and throwing them under neighbor's cars.

Marian Degliantoni called the police three times, but the party was never shut down and continued into the early hours of the morning.

"A police officer showed up once and took a bag of fireworks from a boy. Then they threw firecrackers at his car when he was leaving," Degliantoni said.

Residents, including Police Chief Lee Violett, reported finding illegal fireworks on their property. Johns showed the City Council three bottle rockets she picked up from her yard.

Police responded to 166 fireworks calls between 8 p.m. and midnight. The 22 police on duty couldn't catch fireworks culprits even when they showed up two or three seconds after receiving the call. The only way they can arrest anyone is if they see people lighting the fireworks. If they do catch someone, the person is charged with a misdemeanor and a police officer has to spend the rest of the evening processing paperwork, Violett said.

This year, 18 community organizations ranging from Little Leagues to the Rotary Club applied for permits to sell safe and sane fireworks in San Bruno. Last year, a similar number of organizations made $732,000 in the week prior to July 4. The Police Officers Association racked in $94,000, the most of any group.

Although it serves as a major fund-raiser for important organizations, the sale of fireworks in the city may have reached its practical end, Vice Mayor Jim Ruane said.

"We've been lucky. But, I think the luck is just about up. I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of safe and sane fireworks," Ruane said.

Councilwoman Irene O'Connell hesitated and said making the drastic decision could have a huge impact on charitable organizations. It also may not stop people from setting off illegal fireworks purchased elsewhere, she added.

Councilman Chris Pallas is against the idea of banning fireworks because of the holiday they represent. People should have the right to celebrate their freedom, Pallas said.

"It's like the prohibition on the '20s. They'll get them anyway," Pallas said.

Instead, Pallas suggested people take protection of their homes and neighborhoods into their owns hands instead of waiting for police.

"I'd go over to my neighbor's and get them to stop, even if I had to punch them in the nose," Pallas said.

San Bruno and Pacifica are the only two cities in the Bay Area to sell "safe and sane" fireworks.

A meeting to discuss the city ordinance will be scheduled for the beginning of August.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com