Riverside, California – Following the largest wildfire in city history, Riverside is deploying drones this Fourth of July in an effort to deter and catch those who violate its blanket ban on fireworks. The move comes one year after the Hawarden Fire, ignited by illegal fireworks, scorched 500 acres, destroyed multiple homes, and left at least two people injured.
City officials announced this week that small unmanned drones will be used to assist police, firefighters, and code enforcement teams in identifying and documenting fireworks violations from the air. Equipped with cameras and operated by trained personnel, the drones will patrol neighborhoods throughout Riverside to pinpoint where fireworks are being set off.
“We saw first-hand last summer how fireworks can cause catastrophic property damage,” said Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. “The risk to lives and property is real, and the consequences for getting caught just aren’t worth it.”…