Fourth of July fireworks sales start Thursday in Costa Mesa

With Independence Day just around the corner, three dozen groups will set up shop in Costa Mesa starting Thursday to sell Fourth of July fireworks — an annual tradition that local nonprofits and booster clubs use to add bang to their budgets.

Each year, Costa Mesa allows area groups to sell “safe and sane” fireworks that bear the seal of approval from the California fire marshal.

The city has awarded 36 permits for fireworks stands this year.

Sales are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Independence Day.

Fireworks can be lit only from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They are not allowed on city parks, public parking lots or school property.

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For some of the groups, peddling the whizzing wares is a major source of money.

In a typical year, the football boosters at Estancia High School can make $30,000 to $40,000 selling fireworks. That’s about a third of the money the group will raise throughout the year, said Robert Murtha, who sets up and runs the boosters club stand.

“This is probably our biggest fundraiser of the year,” he said.

Groups authorized to sell fireworks must be either a nonprofit or school booster club and are typically tied to youth sports, city spokesman Tony Dodero said.

The Estancia football booster club, for instance, uses the proceeds from its stand to sponsor scholarships for its summer camp, Murtha said.

Costa Mesa American Little League will use money from its stand to help buy uniforms or pay tournament fees for its all-star teams, said organization President Todd Cowley.

Selling fireworks is one of the group’s largest fundraisers, he said, usually bringing in $8,000 to $10,000.

“We get a lot of people who come by because they want to help out Little League, either because it’s something they remember participating in as a kid or they want to support the league,” he said.

Fireworks stand operators who spoke with the Daily Pilot said the bulk of their business comes on the Fourth of July itself.

Harlan Andersen, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa, said the club usually gets roughly half its take — around $12,000 — on the holiday.

Andersen himself is a customer at the Kiwanis stand.

“My wife loves fireworks, so she has to buy some,” he said with a laugh. “After we close on the Fourth, we usually come home and do a little bit, but not a lot.”

While the goal is for fireworks to help raise funds for local groups and provide a fun way to celebrate the holiday, city officials warn there are serious consequences to setting off illegal fireworks.

Fireworks deemed “safe and sane” don’t leave the ground or explode in the air. Therefore, devices such as cherry bombs, bottle rockets, aerial shells and firecrackers are illegal.

“We want residents to know that there will be extra enforcement during this time and we will have zero tolerance for use of illegal fireworks,” Dodero said. “Using illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor, and selling illegal fireworks is a felony.”

Last year, police and fire personnel in Costa Mesa confiscated more than 650 pounds of illegal fireworks, the city said.

Such devices present not only a safety risk but a fire hazard as well, officials say.

“What goes up must come down and, with the dry conditions that currently exist throughout the state of California, the fire danger is extremely elevated,” Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano said in a public service announcement posted on the city’s website.

Public safety officials say young children never should be allowed to play with fireworks and that adults always should supervise activities where such devices are present.

Here are some other fireworks safety tips provided by the city:

• Don’t throw or point fireworks at another person.

• Light fireworks one at a time.

• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.

• Keep a bucket of water or a hose on hand in case of trouble.

• Don’t try to relight fireworks that have not ignited fully.

• Once fireworks have finished burning, douse them with water before throwing them away.

Anyone who sees illegal fireworks being used or sold, or fireworks being used improperly, is encouraged to notify the city at (714) 754-5252.

For more information, visit CostaMesaCA.gov/fireworks.

Fireworks stands in Costa Mesa

Here are the locations in Costa Mesa where groups will be selling fireworks to raise money, according to permits filed with the city:

AYSO 17th, 289 E. 17th St.

AYSO Fairview, 2252 Fairview Road

AYSO Bristol, 280 Bristol St.

AYSO Newport, 2620 Newport Blvd.

California School Educational Foundation, 3029 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa American Little League, 2949 Fairview Road

Costa Mesa High School Aquatics, 141 E. 17th St.

Costa Mesa High School Band Boosters, 3009 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa High School Band/Color Guard, 2701 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa High School Baseball Boosters, 1097 Baker St.

Costa Mesa High School Boys Basketball Boosters, 739 W. 19th St.

Costa Mesa High School Cheer Boosters, 233 E. 17th St.

Costa Mesa High School Football Boosters, 610 W. 18th St.

Costa Mesa High School Track & Field, 1085 Baker St.

Costa Mesa High School Girls Soccer, 2200 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa Middle School Color Guard, 2180 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa Middle School Delta, 1154 Sunflower Ave.

Costa Mesa National Little League, 145 E. 19th St.

Costa Mesa Pop Warner, 296 E. 17th St.

Estancia High School Aquatic Boosters, 2150 Placentia Ave.

Estancia High School Band Boosters, 2300 Harbor Blvd.

Estancia High School Baseball Boosters, 185 E. 17th St.

Estancia High School Boys Basketball Boosters, 380 E. 17th St.

Estancia High School Boys Soccer Boosters, 3010 Harbor Blvd.

Estancia High School Cheer Booster Club, 1720 Superior Ave.

Estancia High School Football Boosters, 1175 Baker St.

Estancia High School Girls Soccer, 1700 Adams Ave.

Estancia High School Golf Boosters, 2666 Harbor Blvd.

Harbor Trinity Youth Group, 1230 Baker St.

Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa, 740 W. Wilson St.

Lighthouse Church Youth, 2150 Harbor Blvd.

Newport Harbor High School Boys Baseball, 253 E. 17th St.

Newport Harbor High School Football Boosters, 495 17th St.

Newport Harbor High School Roller Hockey, 803 19th St.

Vanguard University Women’s Basketball, 2599 Newport Blvd.

Youth Services Assn. of Orange County, 2180 Newport Blvd.

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Luke Money, lucas.money@latimes.com

Twitter: @LukeMMoney