San Bruno preps for Fourth of July fireworks

Typically, it’s illegal fireworks that cause problems on the Fourth of July, San Bruno Fire Chief Ari Delay said.

“Although safe and sane [fireworks] are a concern, we don’t take it lightly, we prepare for it, the ones that are very dangerous really are the illegal fireworks,” he said. “All the communities throughout the Peninsula really have that issue with illegal firework use in their communities.”

Safe and sane fireworks can be used in the city from noon to 11 p.m. June 28 to July 4, Delay said. They’re prohibited for use on public property like city streets and parks.

The sale of safe and sane fireworks has long been a fundraising opportunity for city nonprofits. Though a new state law state law capping cost recovery efforts for firework enforcement at 7% of gross sales threw the long-term future of that program into doubt last year, 12 vendors are continuing the practice this year.

Previously, San Bruno has foisted Fourth of July costs for public safety, including police and fire, public works cleanup and education and enforcement onto those selling the fireworks as part of a cost recovery program. The cost for last year’s fireworks enforcement, for example, totaled around $76,513.

Last year, San Bruno saw 114 calls for fireworks on the Fourth, 12 fire-related deployments and 15 citations. Those 2024 numbers were comparable to other San Mateo County cities, including Pacifica, which also permits safe and sane fireworks sales and saw 93 calls.

Other cities, like South San Francisco, saw 107 calls last year.

Those numbers are typical for the holiday, San Bruno police Lt. Shawn Greathouse said. He reiterated that illegal fireworks are typically what cause a majority of safety issues.

“Unfortunately [safe and sane fireworks] are not the one we’re getting calls about. We’re getting calls about ones that explode and leave the ground,” he said.

The Police Department requires that all staff members work on the Fourth of July and is also conducting a robust information campaign, alongside the Fire Department, to educate the community on firework safety.

It’s important that residents only call 911 to report specific incidents of illegal firework usage, Delay said. Other calls, like ones regarding loud noises or disruptions without specific information, can serve as a distraction for responders.

“If you have a very specific thing, you saw a person, a neighbor, and a firework, something like that, you know, that’s something that can be proactive on, and go out there and respond,” he said. “Very vague reports are really not helpful, and they actually can be a distraction.”

Ensuring legal fireworks are properly extinguished is another element of the city’s informational campaign, Mayor Rico Medina said.

“Even with safe and sane, people need to take the proper measures to make sure they’re extinguished, they’re soaked, they’re saturated,” he said.

Improper use of safe and sane fireworks, as well as the use of illegal fireworks, comes with a $1,000 citation. Social host citations may also be used to penalize those who allow the use of illegal fireworks on their properties.

Those celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks should enjoy the festivities while remaining aware of neighbors, children and pets in the area, Medina said.

“Our ask would be that we be mindful of our neighbors and our community during the celebration of the Fourth of July,” he said.