ILLEGAL FIREWORKS seized in Orange County.

Problems associated with fireworks – especially the illegal kind – have plagued Orange County cities for years.

Stanton, however, is taking steps to use financial penalties and other approaches to curb the dangers posed by the unlawful pyrotechnics. As part of its enforcement program in 2025, the city issued administrative citations to 18 properties ranging from $1,000 to $300,000.

Seventeen of those cited have entered into settlement agreements with negotiated citation amounts of $10,000 or less. The money recovered through those citations will go toward:
• ongoing illegal fireworks enforcement;
• monitoring and documentation technology;
• administrative processing, and
• community education and prevention efforts.

Among the measures used to curb use of illegal fireworks — any except the “safe and sane” variety – were the use of a social host ordinance, which held property owners and tenants responsible for such activity on their property.
Additionally, the city is using drones to monitor and document violations and implementing a business license revocation policy directed at illegal fireworks activity.

In 2025, there were 44 fireworks-related injuries reported countywide, according to the Orange County Fire Authority between June 30 and July 5.

Illegal fireworks accounted for 39 percent of those injuries.

Two incidents resulted in hand amputations and one in the death of a child. Overall fireworks were responsible for almost $1 million in property losses in 2025.