CCPD Receives 156 Calls Related to Fireworks

Between  July 1 and July 6,  the Cathedral City Police/Fire Dispatch Center received 738 calls for service; 156 were related to fireworks.

 

CATHEDRAL CITY — Despite spending more than $13,000 to advertise the city’s position of fireworks, between  July 1 and July 6, 2021, the Police/Fire Dispatch Center received a total of 738 calls for service. Some 156 were related to fireworks.  

The illegal possession and discharge of aerial and exploding fireworks continues to be a challenge for police and fire departments, Police Chief George Crum.

On March 25, 2020, the City Council voted to repeal the ordinance permitting “Safe and Sane” fireworks in Cathedral City. With the repeal of the “Safe and Sane” fireworks ordinance, and the adoption of the 2019 California Fire Code, all fireworks are prohibited in Cathedral City.

In a report to the City Council for its study session on Wednesday, Aug. 11, Crum included call volume beginning on July 1 and ending on July 6, 2021. Dispatch received the following calls for emergency services from midnight on July 1 through
midnight on July 6, 2020:

• July 1 – 88 incidents, 2 related to fireworks
• July 2 – 149 incidents, 6 related to fireworks
• July 3 – 134 incidents, 13 related to fireworks
• July 4 – 212 incidents, 118 related to fireworks
• July 5 – 153 incidents, 15 related to fireworks
• July 6 – 106 incidents, 9 related to fireworks

Police officers and fire crews remained busy during this time period, according to Crum. The activity in 2021 was less than the community and fire and police personnel experienced in 2020.

“Police officers and firefighters often found it difficult to locate precise locations where fireworks were being ignited because many were ignited in back yards and by individuals that had left the location prior to the police or fire department arrival,” Crum states in his report

The police department remained proactive in the month of June leading up to the Fourth of July weekend having issued three citations to individuals who were in possession of illegal fireworks, according to Crum. During the operational period of July 1 through July 6, the Police Department made six arrests of adults in possession of illegal fireworks or igniting illegal
fireworks.

Fires related to fireworks included a brush and grass fire, a palm tree on fire and a fire in the street. No structures were damaged as a result of fires.

The City Council will officially receive the report when it meets in Study Session on Wednesday, Aug.11 at 3:30 p.m. Normally no action is taken on Study Session items, however, the City Council reserves the right to give specific policy direction and take specific action as necessary.