http://www.sbsun.com/opinions/ci_4034332
From the SUN TELEGRAM EDITORIAL STAFF:
EDITORIAL: SAFE AND SANE?
Fireworks sales proving dangerous
Our View: Last week's blaze should be enough for Grand Terrace to join others banning fireworks
All it takes for a fire to ignite and threaten a community's safety is a couple of kids messing around with fireworks.
Officials suspect two boys playing with a Piccolo Pete last week set off a 425-acre brushfire that spread from Blue Mountain in Grand Terrace through Reche Canyon in Colton, forcing the evacuation of 200 homes.
That the firework in question was of the "safe and sane" sort is especially daunting.
Though no structures or homes were damaged, and no injuries were reported, the post holiday scare that forced hundreds to flee their homes amid the smoke and flames should be enough to force the issue in a city already grappling with how to handle the dangers posed by fireworks.
One of seven cities in the county that ignores the region's history of wildfires and still allows the use and sale of state-approved fireworks, Grand Terrace considered outlawing legal fireworks last year until youth sports groups put up a fuss over loss of a major fund-raiser.
But Thursday's incident, which sparked fears for hundreds forced to flee their homes, should be all the more reason for the city to implement a ban. With even legal fireworks proving hazardous, youth groups need to find other ways to make money without putting the community at risk.
A city committee meeting next month to discuss how the city fared July 4 should take note of the dangers posed by even supposedly innocent fireworks and not allow them. Community safety needs to be the primary concern, with city officials working toward fire protection, not against it.
Gramps is posting the above at the request of many: I think the blog, and those Council Member Ferre and Garcia and Cortez call a "Small Group" of people without ideas, have and will continue to advise the City Council about the Danger of Fireworks, and provide alternatives to funding Youth Programs. The three of them refuse to take any action other than that the Staff recommends so in spite of the committee recommendations, it will if history is to be repeated, require a Staff recommendation to change course on the issue of Fireworks. Time will tell.
Also Note: The Fire Boys are still out in the community. Failure to apprehend them may start them in a cycle of similar activities. Be alert to fire bugs of any sort.
There will be a need for enforcement against ILLEGALS and it will be easier if ALL Fireworks were ILLEGAL in Grand Terrace. Let's be clear. There will need to be enforcement against all Fireworks over that week, and other holidays. All fireworks should be Illegal at ALL TIMES in Grand Terrace. That is the Position of the Blog.
THE IDEA and way to Fund YOUTH ACTIVITIES:
FUNDING of GT Days, can be transferred to the FUNDING of YOUTH SPORTS and A YOUTH PROGRAMS DAY for GT DAYS could justify spending CITY EMPLOYEE time and effort on the one day event.
Sports should not be the ONLY activity supported by the YOUTH DAY. A Community Band Youth and Young at Heart, Community Neighborhood Teen Center for Latch Key Kids. Community Youth Job Bank and a number of activities should be organized and available for this segment of our community. These ideas are all from different people who have emailed the blog, and spoken at Council Meetings, and were Duly Noted by the Council Member Ferre.
Last year the first meeting post July 4th caused there to be a committee to be formed. The recommendations of that committee were watered down by the Staff. It took to the last minute for the revised ordinance to be approved and we still suffered not only the fire on blue mt. but a evening of noise, fear, and danger, from "Safe and Sane" and Illegal Fireworks.
This issue will be put on the back burner, and memories will fade, and the next time around, the Sports teams will ask again to sell fireworks as an Easy way to fund their programs. Gramps hopes not. No one was hurt, no homes were lost this time... The city can't support this activity in the future by makeing it legal in GT on any day. IF it does, it should be insured to pay for the liabilities caused by firework use and abuse all year.
Further more we should encourage the City of Colton to give up the addiction to Firework Sales also.
