Some cities in California have nixed fireworks shows because of the drought. And in Santa Clara County, property owners will now face $350 fines if fireworks are exploded from their lawns. Bob Redell reports.
Fireworks celebrating July 4 will splash across the sky in major California cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
But several cities in the drought-stricken state have put the kibosh on the pyrotechnics.
Most notably, the city of Cupertino canceled its annual fireworks show because the event took place on the high school lawn, which is actually made of plastic turf. It is believed to be the first city in California to have done so because of drought-related reasons.
Crews estimated it would take 100,000 gallons of water to drench the fake grass before and after the show to prevent the plastic from melting, according to city spokesman Rick Kitson. The school district decided not to waste all that water this year as California is in its fourth year of drought.
Some other areas decided to follow similar suit because of the drought.
Accuweather reports that Kern County and the city of Danville have banned fireworks and two lake areas — Bass Lake, roughly 55 miles northeast of Fresno, and Don Pedro Lake — have nixed fireworks because of the drought.
Separate from the drought, Santa Clara County supervisors last month voted to hold homeowners accountable when fireworks are discharged from their property by being slapped with a $350 fine if the explosives are launched off their lawns.
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That’s not to say there isn’t enough to do for the July 4 weekend. The Bay Area has at least 20 shows, events and parades to celebrate the nation’s birthday. And still, there are sanctioned fireworks displays in downtown San Jose's Discovery Meadow, Leo Ryan Park in Foster City, the Berkeley Marina and Pier 39 in San Francisco.
