Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 71

Introduced by Senator Gaines

(Coauthor: Senator Vidak)

June 1, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 71—Relative to Fireworks Safety Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 71, as introduced, Gaines. Fireworks Safety Month.

This measure would designate June 21, 2015, through July 21, 2015, as Fireworks Safety Month and would encourage the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire protection agencies to educate members of the public about the risks of improperly using fireworks, including fireworks that have been approved as safe and sane.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, Many Californians and visitors to the state will be
celebrating our nation’s independence on July 4th with fireworks;
and

WHEREAS, Fireworks were involved in an estimated 11,400
injuries treated in hospital emergency departments throughout the
United States during 2013, with roughly 65 percent of those injuries
being treated during the period between June 21 and July 21,
inclusive; and

WHEREAS, Serious misuse of fireworks devices, as well as
the use of illegal explosives, account for a large proportion of these
injuries; and

WHEREAS, Children younger than 15 years of age accounted
for approximately 40 percent of the injuries, with roughly 2,300
of those injuries being caused by sparklers, 300 by bottle rockets,
and 500 by firecrackers; and

WHEREAS, The parts of the body most often injured were
hands, fingers, head, face, eyes, and legs, with burns representing
the most common injury to all parts of the body, except that
lacerations and foreign bodies occurred more frequently in the
eyes; and

WHEREAS, Bodily injury is not the only damage that can occur
from improper use of fireworks and the Department of Forestry,
and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has stated that improper use of
fireworks during California’s severe drought has caused wildfires;
and

WHEREAS, CAL FIRE has already responded to 1,122 wildfires
between January 2015 and May 2015, inclusive, that have burned
4,206 acres, nearly double the number of fires and acreage
destroyed by this time in 2013, and therefore CAL FIRE is urging
the public to enjoy only professional fireworks displays; and

WHEREAS, Since it can take hundreds of thousands of gallons
of water to control a large wildfire, avoiding home use of fireworks
is important not only for safety and wildfire prevention, but also
to save precious water resources during this critical period of
drought; and

WHEREAS, CAL FIRE has reminded those who choose to use
fireworks to celebrate to make sure fireworks are allowed in the
area of use and that they follow all safety precautions, because
individuals not following these requirements can be held financially
responsible for any fire caused by improper fireworks activities;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designate, June 21, 2015,
to July 21, 2015, inclusive, as Fireworks Safety Month; and, be it
further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire protection agencies to
educate members of the public about the risks of improperly using
fireworks, including fireworks that have been approved as safe
and sane; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages these agencies to
advise members of the public about the high fines for use or sale
of illegal fireworks in addition to the risk of paying for wildfire
damage caused by improper or illegal use of fireworks; and, be it
further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.