By Hector Gonzalez
Staff Writer

July 1, 2015 -- As far as enforcing Santa Monica's ban on illegal fireworks goes -- including so-called “safe and sane” sparklers -- police and fire officials have a relatively easy time of it on the Fourth of July, apart from the occasional tourists unfamiliar with local ordinances, a fire marshal said.

Last July Fourth, authorities in Los Angeles seized more than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks in coordinated raids across the city, according to published reports, and county Sheriff's Department deputies in the Santa Clarita Valley annually have to deploy a special task force to crack down on illegal fireworks street shows.

“For the most part we get good compliance from residents,” said Santa Monica Fire Department Fire Marshal Eric Binder. “It's mostly from visitors who come in and want to enjoy the holiday and think it's OK to light fireworks on the beach.”

For that reason, the City's police and fire departments will have extra personnel along the beach this weekend, as well as officers patrolling the interior spots for people violating the local law.

Having extra staffing available on holidays when tourists descend in droves on the beach city is routine for both departments, police and fire officials said.

But this year the drought has upped the fire risk, said Binder.

Signs along the beach explain the local rules, he said. In addition, the Fire Department always dispatches a paramedic unit to the beach on the holiday to be available in the event of a medical emergency, he added.

The local ban has been in place for at least since Binder joined the department 15 years ago, he said. Although residents are fairly familiar with the law, officials put out a reminder every year.

“This is something we do annually,” said Binder of a press release the SMFD issued this week. “We do that just to remind everyone that all fireworks are illegal here in the City.”

Extra police officer also will be out on patrol over the holiday weekend and, yes, they will confiscate illegal fireworks on the spot, said SMPD spokesman Sgt. Rudy Camarena.

Santa Monica residents hoping to see rockets' red glare for the holiday had their one and only local chance last week at the annual fireworks show at Santa Monica College, which was “very well attended,” said Binder.

It's been the custom in the touristy City to have a fireworks show on the weekend before the Fourth, he said.

“We used to do the show on the Fourth at the Pier, but we would get this mass of people,” he said.

After that the City experimented for a few years with holding a fireworks show at four in the morning of the Fourth before deciding it was unfeasible and moving the fireworks to the weekend before July 4.

“The public is urged to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and instead, to enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals,” said the SMFD press release.

Residents who still want to enjoy fireworks without having to drive too far can check out the show at Marina del Rey, which begins at 9 p.m.

And of course there's always the annual Fourth of July Parade down Main Street starting at 9:30 a.m.