August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
Illegal Fireworks
Enforcement Campaign
2024 Report
City of Merced Fire Department
Casey Wilson, Interim Fire Chief
Education and Outreach Efforts
• Social media posts
• Facebook and Instagram
• Radio spots
• Television interviews
• Banners throughout town to deter the use of fireworks • Meetings with neighborhood groups to listen to concerns August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
Mitigation and Prevention Efforts
• Implementation of Property
Owner Citations
• No contact by MFD members
• 6 Administrative Citations Issued
• Use of Merced Connect app by
community members
• Creates an email sent to members
for investigation
• Creates a tracking opportunity
August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
MPD Enforcement Efforts
• Buy/Bust Operations
• Disrupt and discourage the flow of
illegal fireworks into the community.
• Police Officer Staffing
• Officer overtime shifts assigned to
fireworks detail.
• Expanded Dispatch Staffing
• Dispatcher and community
volunteers.
• Bomb Squad
• Responded to assist with dangerous
fireworks/explosives. 2,600 pounds of
firework explosives were recovered.
August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
July 4th Holiday Week Response
July 3rd – Wednesday July 4th – Thursday July 5th – Friday July 6th - Saturday Calls for service – 38 Calls for service – 47 Calls for service – 38 Calls for service – 39 Fires – 0 Fires – 14 Fires – 6 Fires – 3
Structure Fires – 0 Structure Fires - 2 Structure Fires – 0 Structure Fires – 0 August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
June 28th – July 6th
Phone – 104
Merced Connect – 15
Total – 119
Fire Department Calls for Service
Merced Connect & Celebrate Safe
July 4th & 5th
Phone – 95
Merced Connect – 9
Total – 104
July 4th Holiday Response
August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
Fire Department Calls for Service
• 14 Total Fires
• 12 Fires between 7pm-7am
• 27 Total Incidents between 7pm-7am
• 1 Significant Structure Fire
• 1 Vehicle into Structure w/Gas Leak
• 100% draw down – Calls pending
• No mutual aid available
Fireworks Operation Response
Police Calls for Service
Calls for service 79 (June 1st –July 5th)
Individual Fireworks Seized Over 2,600 pounds
Buy/Bust Operations 1
Arrests 2
Citations 0
Firearms seized 0
August 5, 2024 Council Meeting
Celebrate Safe 2024