San Andreas, CA… The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) would like to remind Tuolumne and Calaveras county residents and visitors of the fire danger and use of illegal fireworks. All fireworks, including “Safe and Sane”, are PROHIBITED in ALL areas of Tuolumne County and Calaveras County.

Public displays will be at Pine Mountain Lake and Lake Don Pedro on July 3rd at 8 PM for both locations.

CAL FIRE Peace Officers will be out in full force. Anyone caught with fireworks will be cited and fireworks confiscated. Violation of fireworks laws are subject to a maximum $1,000 fine and up to one year in a county jail. However, if large quantities of dangerous fireworks are found, prosecutors could charge the violator with a felony, punishable by up to three years in the California State Prison and fines up to $50,000. Additionally, if the fireworks use results in a fire the user is subject to additional violations, the possibility of arrest and potential civil liability for the damages caused by the fire. Members of the public possessing fireworks can surrender them without penalty at any fire station.

The lack of rainfall we received this year has led to very dry conditions throughout the CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU). This has caused several recent fires to spread
rapidly. Everybody needs to be responsible and aware of actions that will cause fires including equipment use, barbeque use, campfire safety, and towed vehicle precautions.

CAL FIRE TCU wishes everyone a safe holiday weekend and remember one less spark means one less wildfire.

For additional information, please visit the following sites:
http://www.fire.ca.gov/
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/fire-engineering-and-investigations/fireworks/
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/