Fireworks Confiscated in Milpitas: 1,350

Correction: The number of fireworks recovered was 1,350, not 13,500.

While an estimated 20,000 people watched the Monday, a fire inspection official with the help of volunteers went out to parks and neighborhoods to stop the illegal ones.

A group of a hundred people had gathered to watch fireworks at , said Fire Inspector Eric Emmanuele. That was just one location among the parks, streets, front yards and backyards. 

Volunteers are a key component of the fire suppression operation. Seven teams reported from the field in unmarked cars and used HAM radios to call in illegal activity to the city's Emergency Operation Center. 

Four years ago, Emmanuele didn't have a team and confiscated about 100 fireworks, he recalled.

Having volunteers make the operation almost cost neutral, he said. Altogether, there were six Milpitas Fire Aides, seven radio volunteers, five S.A.F.E. team members and three Milpitas Police Citizen Volunteers.

On Monday, about 1,350 fireworks were confiscated, an increase compared to last year's 900 and, prior to that, 600.

There are grass fires and roof fires to worry about. And then there are the injuries. Two years ago, one person lost several fingers. 

"We're doing our best to prevent injuries from happening," he said. There were no reported fireworks-related injuries or fires in Milpitas on July 4.

While no arrests or citations were made because Fire Marshal Albert Zamora decided kept it an educational opportunity, "there's a strong consideration on the table" for next year, said Emmanuele.

Last year one person was arrested when an explosive device, professional grade two-inch mortars purchased in Nevada, fell over, bounced off a house and nearly hit someone, he said.

"There's some dangerous stuff out there," he said.

All fireworks are illegal in Milpitas, including "" fireworks. Out of the 1,350 recovered, about 245 were designed to be shot in the air. Nine were classified as destructive devices by the California Health and Safety Code (M-100 and M-1000). 

makes possession of fireworks a misdemeanor and destructive devices a felony.

In Gilroy, sales and possession of "safe" fireworks are allowed. While no one was cited this year, there were .