Michael Caraveo knows fireworks can be dangerous--he nearly blew off his hand while playing with illegal firecrackers as a teenager.
But that painful memory didn't deter the 29-year-old Encino resident from making the nearly 45-mile drive to Fillmore on Friday afternoon to legally purchase fireworks for his Fourth of July celebration.
"This year, more than anything, this is for my 2-year-old," he said. "Seeing his eyes light up. That's my celebration."
Buying fireworks is illegal everywhere in Ventura County except in this rural city, which on the first day of sales attracted dozens of out-of-towners who spent hundreds of dollars to purchase Piccolo Petes, Killer Bees, sparklers and smoke bombs.
Dry conditions have made this one of the worst fire seasons in years, and officials worry that a stray spark even from so-called safe and sane fireworks could cause a major brush fire, such as the Wolf blaze, which burned nearly 23,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest earlier this month.
County fire officials asked Fillmore to suspend firework sales this year in light of the added danger. The City Council denied the request, saying the sales discourage the use of illegal fireworks--those that lift in the air or explode and which are most likely to cause a fire."It's a pretty unpopular idea" to eliminate firework sales, said Fillmore Fire Chief Pat Askren. Though he personally would support a temporary ban, he said his job is to follow the wishes of the City Council.
"Somehow, people think it's a God-given right to set off fireworks," Askren said of the sales, which began at noon Friday. "I just hope and pray that it doesn't cause injury to someone. And that people use common sense."Fireworks sales are the biggest source of income for the 26 charities, churches and nonprofit groups operating booths in Fillmore, said Barbara Workman of the Fillmore Women's Service Club, who worked at her group's stand on California 126. Last year, these groups made profits of nearly $450,000 from fireworks sales.
With most groups on Friday raking in upward of $60 per purchase, it's unlikely an alternate fund-raiser would generate as much revenue.
"Most fires are started by illegal fireworks, and you can't stop people from using those," Workman said. "I don't think we should be penalized because of the few who misuse fireworks. The whole town depends on this."
