Fire Investigators Arrest Two – Seize Fireworks
June 27th, 2012Working on a tip about the storage and sale of illegal fireworks, Fire District Fire Investigators and Fire Inspectors converged on two homes in the Pacheco area today, serving search warrants on each home and arrest warrants for two men. The first site, 982 Temple Drive, yielded a cache of over 300 pounds of illegal, commercial grade fireworks, including M-80s and other explosive fireworks. The second home on South 4th Avenue on the Pleasant Hill and Pacheco border yielded a smaller cache of fireworks, believed to have been obtained from the first address.
Two men were arrested in connection with the seizure – bail was set at $500,000 for one of the men and increased to $1,000,000 for the other. Fire Investigators received logistical and operational support from CalFire Law Enforcement personnel – some drove from as far away as Tehama County to participate in today’s operation.
The fireworks were collected, transported to the Fire Investigation office in Pittsburg for evidence processing and ultimately transferred to CalFire for final storage and disposal. Deputies from the Sheriff’s office assisted in operational support and in transporting one of the men arrested.
Fireworks of all kinds, including those with the title of “safe and sane” are illegal in Contra Costa County. With the July 4th holiday coming next week we remind everyone of this and urge people to leave fireworks shows to the professionals. In 2011, numerous fires were started in our area from fireworks and one person lost most of a hand from an illegal device.
Our fireworks hotline will be updated by the end of this week with information on shows planned for the 4th of July. Please call 925-941-3328 for more information. If you have information on a person storing, selling, or using illegal fireworks, please call 866-50-ARSON for our Arson Tip Line – all information received is kept confidential.