Get rid of leftover fireworks safely

The skies lit up with more illegal fireworks this year than last year in Cathedral City, Fire Chief Paul Wilson said. The illegal fireworks were to blame for sparking a palm tree fire and burning a grass area at a home in the city during the holiday weekend, the chief said.

“We had a lot of illegal activity in the city of Cathedral City,” Wilson said. “Aerial fireworks and explosive fireworks. Those are illegal in the state of California.”

Cathedral City police confiscated some of the illegal fireworks and turned them over to the Fire Department Tuesday.
Illegal or not, Wilson said it’s time to safely get rid of leftover fireworks.

“We don’t want residents to dispose of legal or illegal fireworks in the trash because they can be compacted and be ignited and could result in a trash truck fire or landfill,” Wilson said.

Wilson encourages people to drop off unused fireworks during business hours at the fire station. The Office of the State Fire Marshal will properly dispose of them.

Saving fireworks for next year in the desert heat could be a hazard.

“If they’ve been lit before or damaged in the packaging or exposed to moisture the material can be compromised.”

People who get caught lighting fireworks after the Fourth of July could pay a hefty price.

“The minimum fine is $500 or a year in prison,” Wilson said.