I live in southern LA county, 20 miles from the largest wildfire that just ravaged our state. On the second night of the fires, I walked outside and witnessed an ominous plume of thick smoke moving down the coast, white ash falling from the sky, and a film of gray soot covering my patio. Within hours, while watching fire erupt behind the Hollywood sign on the news, I started hearing fireworks in my neighborhood. I was in disbelief. 

I signed onto the NextDoor app only to find residents in various neighborhoods in Torrance and cities including Palos Verdes and Redondo Beach were also reporting firework activity. I was shocked. Multiple lives, neighborhoods, precious landmarks and wildlife were being endangered and lost, and people were lighting fireworks. And California, through its patchwork of laws throughout the state, is essentially letting this happen. 

I reside in the city of Torrance, where fireworks are illegal—unless you live in the part of Torrance that’s considered unincorporated LA County. This means there are two conflicting laws just within just one city! And in this city, fireworks are heard year-round. I admit I’ve stopped calling the police. Even if they offenders are caught, what penalty can be imposed in a city and state with conflicting laws and no uniform regulations? This has to stop! 

This is not a knee-jerk reaction unfairly targeting one potential cause of our recent fires, it’s an emergent  issue based on empirical evidence. Cal Fire statistics prior to 2025 reveal that over a ten year period, 7% of all California wildfires, roughly 5,250 fires by statistical average, have been incited by fireworks. It’s simply nonsensical to continue to allow their private use considering the challenges we currently face in our state including environmental changes like drought and the increasing number of high-wind events, population density, and the vast expanses of canyons and hilly terrain that comprise so much of our state’s topography.

This petition calls for legislation that would create a statewide ban, making it unlawful for any individual or group to sell, purchase, possess, or detonate any form of fireworks or other incendiary devices in the state of California year-round. It would emulate the law in the state of Massachusetts that states:

The possession and use of all fireworks by private citizens is illegal in Massachusetts. This includes Class C fireworks which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.” Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more.

This petition considers that the laws currently in place in our state are an ineffective hodgepodge of inconsistent regulations that do not serve a singular purpose and cannot properly protect our state and its residents from fireworks-related threats. 

This new statewide ban should only consider exceptions for professional pyrotechnic companies producing fireworks displays at large-scale public events, stadiums, theme parks, concert venues and other locations the state considers safe and eligible for such use. All applicants would be required to apply for and receive state-level approval and relevant permits for the sale, possession and ignition of fireworks statewide. Permits would only be issued once the applicant proves eligibility, has completed all state local requirements and any and all other steps outlined under the newly enacted law(s) within the timeframe allotted prior to the event(s). 

This legislation is owed to all residents of California who have experienced, or otherwise been affected by, fireworks-related incidents. The legislation would finally address the issue in an effective way, with the goal of creating real and measurable change. In doing so, the action also seeks to positively influence the willingness of fire and property insurers to continue to issue affordable coverage in California by taking this to serious step toward reducing our state’s overall fire risk.

I concede fireworks are not the only cause of wildfires in our state, but rather one prong of a complex and evolving issue. However, this is, without argument, one of the simplest challenges to address with straightforward legislation upon which I believe the majority of California residents can agree. 

Please sign this petition to make California a safer place by enabling legislation that makes it unlawful for any individual or group to sell, purchase, possess, or detonate any form of fireworks or other incendiary device in the state of California.