Adelanto Weighs Future Of Fireworks After Holiday Strains City Resources, Sparks Litter And Enforcement Concerns
ADELANTO, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Residents packed Adelanto Stadium on Monday evening for a nearly three-hour community workshop on fireworks, where city officials, San Bernardino County Fire, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and community members discussed the public safety impacts, enforcement challenges, neighborhood concerns and the future of “Safe and Sane” fireworks in the city.
The July 13 workshop was organized to gather public input following another busy Fourth of July holiday that strained emergency resources and sparked renewed debate over whether Adelanto should continue allowing the sale and use of state-approved fireworks.
Adelanto City Manager Jessie Flores said many families celebrated the Fourth of July safely and responsibly, but the holiday placed a significant strain on city resources. He said the city saw increased calls for illegal fireworks, traffic, parking and other public safety issues, while Public Works crews spent an entire week removing fireworks debris and trash from streets, parks and other public areas. Flores said the city also sustained damage to public infrastructure, received dozens of complaints through multiple reporting channels and experienced a significant influx of visitors from outside Adelanto. He said the workshop was intended to review the city’s response, identify lessons learned and gather ideas to improve future Fourth of July celebrations through stronger enforcement, better coordination and other public safety measures.
Assistant Chief Kelly Anderson, Division 5 Chief for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, opened the presentation by emphasizing that public safety remains the department’s top priority.
“Our number one focus is community safety,” Anderson said, explaining that officials also want to protect homes and businesses while reducing firework-related fires, injuries and the strain placed on emergency responders.
According to Anderson, Adelanto’s combination of high temperatures, dry vegetation, seasonal winds and neighborhoods bordering undeveloped desert creates an elevated wildfire risk during the Independence Day holiday.
Anderson presented statistics showing that Adelanto’s Rancho Road fire station responded to 76 calls for service on the Fourth of July, compared to its average of just 17 calls per day. Of those 76 calls, 33 were fire-related incidents, not including responses by assisting agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management or neighboring fire departments.
Countywide, San Bernardino County Fire handled 968 calls for service on July 4, including 227 fire calls. On a typical day, the department averages approximately 457 calls, with only 29 fire-related incidents, meaning the holiday more than doubled the department’s overall workload. Most of those calls occurred during a six-hour period between dusk and shortly after midnight.
Anderson explained that fireworks also create delays for other emergencies.
“When your fire engine and your paramedics are tied up on somebody who lit their neighbor’s backyard on fire, then your guys are waiting for the next closest fire engine,” Anderson said.
She noted that critical medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, vehicle crashes and structure fires could experience longer response times.
Officials also highlighted the financial costs associated with wildfire suppression, pointing to the recently ignited Summit Fire, which Anderson said was started by illegal fireworks. Firefighters reported that suppression costs exceeded $2 million during the first night alone while nearly 700 firefighters from throughout Southern California responded to the incident.
Beyond fires, Anderson discussed the impacts fireworks have on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, pets, children, seniors and individuals with sensory sensitivities, including those with autism. Officials also cited property damage, litter left behind after celebrations and rising fire insurance concerns among California homeowners as additional issues facing the community.
Anderson also encouraged residents to consider safer ways to celebrate future Independence Day holidays. She pointed to professional fireworks displays hosted by neighboring communities, including Victorville, as well as community events and barbecues as alternatives. Anderson also noted discussions about reopening Adelanto’s public pool could provide another family-friendly gathering place. In addition, she highlighted the growing popularity of drone light shows, saying several displays she watched this year were “pretty impressive,” and suggested they could serve as another safe alternative to traditional fireworks.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Captain Sean Struebing presented the law enforcement perspective, saying deputies handled 220 calls for service during this year’s Fourth of July holiday, including 55 calls—or approximately 25%—related to fireworks. He said fireworks-related calls have accounted for an average of about 35% of the department’s Fourth of July workload over the past three years.
Struebing said only a minimum of three deputies are typically assigned to patrol Adelanto at any given time, making it difficult to balance fireworks complaints with higher-priority emergencies.
“My primary concern as the captain of Adelanto is safe streets, safe schools, safe businesses, safe parks for your families, your children,” Struebing said.
He explained that deputies must continue responding to domestic violence incidents, assaults, property crimes and other emergency calls throughout the evening, many of which require multiple deputies and can keep them occupied for extended periods. Struebing said those demands, combined with dozens of fireworks complaints, place a significant burden on the department’s limited staffing, but emphasized that protecting the community remains his top priority.
One of the biggest concerns raised throughout the workshop was the amount of litter left behind after the Fourth of July celebrations. Several residents said discarded fireworks, food containers, bottles and other debris littered streets and neighborhoods, leaving Adelanto residents to clean up after visitors who had already returned home.
Mayor Gabriel Reyes said the city’s Public Works Department began cleanup efforts the day after the holiday and had already collected a trailer full of fireworks debris by about 2 p.m. He said crews also found illegally discarded items such as mattresses and couches left along city streets, adding that some people appeared to treat the holiday as an opportunity to dispose of unwanted trash. Reyes also expressed frustration over fireworks being ignited on recently paved roads, saying the city has invested millions of dollars into infrastructure improvements only to see them damaged.
Reyes said he does not want to punish Adelanto residents who responsibly celebrate the Fourth of July, but believes the city should pursue tougher enforcement against those who travel to Adelanto and violate the law. He suggested exploring partnerships with additional enforcement agencies and increasing citations to several thousand dollars, arguing that current fines are not enough to deter repeat offenders because some violators simply budget for existing penalties. He said the city must send a clear message that illegal and disruptive behavior will no longer be tolerated.
The mayor also outlined plans for a community survey that will help guide future policy decisions. He said the city expects to spend July and August developing the survey before distributing it with residents’ water bills during the fall. Residents would have approximately 90 days to complete the survey before city staff reviews the responses alongside the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, the Sheriff’s Department and the city attorney. Reyes also suggested forming a Fourth of July committee to help develop long-term solutions and said community feedback will play a critical role in shaping future enforcement efforts.
City officials also recognized volunteers who helped clean up Adelanto following the holiday. Commissioner Ricky Rubacalva honored Carlos Bocanegra, Evelyn Navarro, Danny Navarro, Anthony Morales, Javier Navarro and Valerie Navarro for volunteering their time to remove fireworks debris from neighborhoods throughout the city. In a social media post following the workshop, the City of Adelanto thanked the volunteers for their “selfless service and commitment to our community,” adding that they demonstrated “what community pride is all about.”
During public comment, residents expressed sharply differing opinions over the future of Safe and Sane fireworks.
Some urged the City Council to ban all fireworks, citing excessive noise, frightened pets, veterans affected by PTSD, property damage and fireworks continuing into the early morning hours.
Others argued the problem is not Adelanto residents, but the thousands of visitors who come into the city because fireworks remain legal. Several speakers called for stronger enforcement, higher fines, cleanup requirements and designated celebration areas rather than eliminating Safe and Sane fireworks altogether.
Following public comment, Council Member Stevevonna Evans said she tallied 34 speakers. According to Evans’ informal count, 22 speakers supported keeping Safe and Sane fireworks, 10 supported banning them, one spoke only against illegal fireworks and one supported Safe and Sane fireworks but acknowledged they were not an Adelanto resident.
The workshop lasted approximately three hours, with residents remaining throughout the evening to hear presentations and share recommendations. City officials said the feedback collected during the meeting and the upcoming community survey will help shape future fireworks policies. No action was taken during the workshop.
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