In response to an influx of illegal and increasingly dangerous fireworks, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger sent letters to federal law enforcement agencies asking for their assistance in stopping this trend.
Supervisor Barger’s concerned letters to law enforcement on firework dangers were prompted by a recent fatal house explosion that killed two men in San Bernardino County, causing much concern for the hazards that illegal fireworks pose to local neighborhoods and communities.
“Because illegal fireworks are smuggled from outside California, our federal partners are in a unique position to help local jurisdictions combat the influx of fireworks contraband,” Barger said in a statement Tuesday. “I am hopeful that Customs agents can keep fireworks in mind when inspecting port shipments and vehicles crossing the border, and I ask that Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents maintain a heightened awareness about the commercial illegal fireworks trade.”
The March 16 explosion that killed two men occurred in an Ontario home’s illegal stockpile of fireworks.
“Our office shares the concern of our constituents of the significant fire danger this poses, particularly in consideration of the illegal firework explosion that occurred in a home in Ontario, California, on March 16, 2021,” Barger said in the letters to the agencies.
Barger’s letters to representatives of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, outlined her concerns about the usage of illegal fireworks and emphasized the increased danger of wildfires caused by illegal fireworks in “drought-stricken California.”
Skyrockets, mortars, firecrackers, M-80s and all other fireworks that explode or fly are prohibited throughout California. However, illegal fireworks are imported by individuals from other states where they are legal and shipped across U.S. borders from overseas, according to Barger. Their use has reportedly become increasingly common on July 4 and throughout the year.
This contraband has been a concerning trend in Southern California and in Barger’s 5th Supervisorial District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and San Fernando Valley.
The letters Barger sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on April 27 can be found here.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
No comments:
Post a Comment