The city of Orange won’t host a Third of July fireworks show for the first time in nearly 30 years because of budget shortfalls.
But for the first time in at least that long, the city will allow the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks for celebrating Independence Day.
Just not everywhere.
Fireworks are not allowed in any part of the east of Orange where authorities deem the fire risk too high.
Fines up to $1,000 may be imposed for violating the city’s fireworks ordinance. For more information, visit www.cityoforange.org/fireworks.
Otherwise, fireworks may be discharged from noon to 10 p.m. on July 4.
They’ll be available for purchase from noon to 10 p.m. through July 3 and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4 at eight locations across the western part of the city. Proceeds will benefit schools and nonprofit groups, which were chosen in a lottery system to host fireworks booths.
Here’s the groups affiliated with each stand:
- 1628 Lincoln Avenue — The Hub OC
- 1411 West Katella Avenue — Journey to Hope Ministries
- 2102 North Tustin Street — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School
- 1500 E Village Way — Spirit and Truth Worship Center
- 222 West La Veta Avenue — Orange Plaza Rotary Club
- 123 East Collins Avenue — North Sunrise Little League
- 1888 North Tustin Street — Fletcher Elementary PTSA
- 1803 East Chapman Avenue — El Modena High School Vanguard Football
- 1411 North Tustin Street — Orange High School Panther Football
- 2222 North Santiago Boulevard — Orange Lutheran High School
- 305 South Main Street — Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment
- 2139 North Tustin Street — Carter-Drenner-Kalms Foundation
Orange voters approved Measure AA in November by a wide margin, making the city the 12th in Orange County to allow the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks.
Proponents highlighted the fundraising aspect for community groups in those cities, which raise hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Other cities allowing legal fireworks sales include Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park and Westminster.
Anaheim also bans their use in the city’s eastern wildland area, everywhere east of the 55 and east and southeast of the 91 freeway, and in Huntington Beach they are prohibited at the coast.
The fireworks that are allowed by the 12 local cities to be sold and used are inspected by the state fire marshal and bear that seal; they can be purchased at the designated booths around these cities and only used in those cities. Other fireworks are still considered illegal and in most cities, their use comes with a hefty fine as local law enforcement try to crack down.
Fire officials still warn not to tamper with the legal varieties of fireworks or let children handle them.