Fontana City Council recently unanimously approved an amendment to the Fontana Municipal Code regarding social hosts who allow the use of illegal fireworks, resulting in a $1,000 fine per violation, up to $10,000 per calendar day. City officials explained that the ordinance is being considered in light of upcoming holidays and celebrations, during which illegal firework use is common, but that the legislation will remain active at all times.
“As Council and staff are well aware, each year during the Fourth of July — and to a lesser extent at New Year’s — we get a lot of complaints about illegal fireworks throughout the city,” Deputy City Manager Ray Ebert said. “Our fire department is dispatched to deal with fires started with illegal fireworks — there have been homes that have been burned down, we have people get injured every year.
“We’re entering into an exciting year in the history of the United States — the 250th Anniversary of our Constitution — and we expect this to be an even bigger celebratory event than we’ve seen in the past.”…