July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
Illegal Fireworks
Enforcement Campaign
2023 Report
City of Merced Fire Department
Derek Parker, Fire Chief
Education and Prevention Efforts
• Social media posts
• Facebook and Instagram
• Radio spots
• Print media
• Television interviews
• Banners throughout town to deter the use of fireworks • Message boards throughout the community
• Meetings with neighborhood groups to listen to concerns July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
Mitigation and Prevention Efforts
• Implementation of Property
Owner Citations
• No contact by MFD members
• Use of Merced Connect app by
community members
• Creates an email sent to members
for investigation
• Creates a tracking opportunity
July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
MPD Enforcement Efforts
• Buy/Bust Operations
• Disrupt and discourage the flow of
illegal fireworks into the community
• Police Officer Staffing
• Patrol shifts expanded to allow
adequate personnel to respond to
fireworks complaints.
• Expanded Dispatch Staffing
• Dispatcher and community volunteers
• Bomb Squad
• On call to respond as needed for
dangerous explosives or modified
fireworks.
July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
July 4th Weekend Response
July 1st – Saturday July 2nd – Sunday July 3rd – Monday July 4th - Tuesday Calls for service – 30 Calls for service – 33 Calls for service – 36 Calls for service – 32 Fires – 4 Fires – 1 Fires – 3 Fires – 15
Structure Fires – 0 Structure Fires - 0 Structure Fires – 1 Structure Fires – 1 July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
July 4th – Call Center
Phone – 80
Merced Connect – 14
Total – 94
Fire Department Calls for Service
Merced Connect & Celebrate Safe
Fireworks Operation Response
Police Calls for Service
Calls for service 159
Buy/Bust Operations 1
Arrests 2
Citations 7
July 17, 2023 Council Meeting
Celebrate Safe 2023