Colton Courier - 07/17/25

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COLTON COURIER WWe

ICE Raids Target Day Laborers in Inland Empire; Dozens Arrested in Riverside, San Bernardino

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Missing Grandfather: Naiping Hou, 74, Kidnapped from Rancho Cucamonga

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SB County Taskforce Confiscates 28K Pounds of Illegal Fireworks

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Inland Empire Community Newspapers

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Colton Lights Up the Sky for 138th Birthday Celebration

Thousands of residents gathered at Colton High School Stadium on Saturday, July 12, to celebrate the city’s 138th birthday with music, food, and a grand fireworks finale that lit up the summer sky.

Families filled the stadium with picnic

blankets and lawn chairs, enjoying bounce houses, vendor booths, and live performances throughout the day. Children giggled as they chased bubbles and danced to music, while local food vendors served everything from tacos to kettle corn.

Councilmen John Echevarria and Dr. G and Assemblymember Robert Garcia were among those in attendance, showing support for the longtime community tradition.

As night fell, families and children oohed and awed as a spectacular fireworks display launched high above the stadium, ending the evening with bursts of color and thunderous applause.

The event, hosted by the City of Colton, remains a cornerstone of local pride— bringing neighbors together and honoring the city’s rich history.

Fontana Resident Purchases, Revives FOX Sports 1270 AM with High School Sports and Digital Focus

ontana resident Brian Arrington has officially purchased and relaunched FOX Sports 1270 AM/Palm Springs, giving the station new life with a strong emphasis on high school sports coverage, grassroots programming, and nationwide accessibility via the iHeart Radio app.

Arrington took over the station on January 1, 2025, and soft-launched programming in April with the help of his family, who now work alongside him to operate the station.

“This is already a family-owned and operated effort,” said Arrington. “If I’m going to bring people in, I myself need to know how to do everything. So right now I'm doing everything from running com-

mercials, running the board, and even fixing toilets.”

His wife, Brandi Arrington, who works in the nursing field, helps manage operations and serves as a trusted advisor. Their daughter, Briana Arrington, offered crucial insight that helped shape the station’s digital pivot.

PHOTO ARRINGTON
New owner of FOX Sports 1270 AM, Brian Arrington, behind the mic and audio board as he is live during the Coachella Valley Sports Report.
PHOTO NOAH LIMON Fireworks lighting up the sky from the Colton High School Stadium.
PHOTO NOAH LIMON Colton Councilmen John Echevarria and Dr. G and Assemblymember Robert Garcia with the Colton High School Girls All-Stars at the birthday celebration.
PHOTO ARRINGTON
From left: Brian Arrington, Brandi Arrington, Briana Arrington, and Brandon Arrington all play a vital role in the operations of FOX Sports 1270 AM.

FOX Sports (cont.)

- “She told me, ‘Dad, we don’t listen to music on the radio—where’s the link?’ That changed everything,” Brian said. “Now, we always tell people to find us on the iHeart Radio app.”

Their sons, Brian Arrington Jr. and Brandon Arrington, are also instrumental to the station’s operations. Brandon, 21, handles audio production and board operations, while Brian Jr. is studying computer technology and helps with network programming and tech infrastructure.

The new programming lineup includes national shows like The Dan Patrick Show and The Herd with Colin Cowherd, but Arrington is focused on building out original, locally-driven content.

“Our primary focus is high school sports,” he said. “But we’ll still run pro content—and we’re building a local 4 to 7 PM drive-time show that speaks directly to the community.”

On August 19, 2025, the station will debut its new local drive-time show, Danny B Happy Hour, offering Coachella Valley-centered sports commentary and interviews.

A centerpiece of that effort is the Coachella Valley Sports Report, a weekend program covering 14 high schools throughout Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indio, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Xavier Prep, and others. The station is also broadcasting Palm Springs Power Division I college baseball games and plans to host a media day for all high school sports teams next month.

The station’s current daily schedule is as follows:

(Monday - Friday)

3am-6am PT Two Pros and a Cup of Joe with LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn & Jonas

Knox

6am-9pm PT The Dan Patrick Show

9am-12pm PT The Herd with Colin Cowherd

12pm-2pm PT The Doug Gottlieb Show

2pm-4pm PT Covino & Rich

4pm-7pm PT The Odd Couple With Rob Parker & Kelvin Washington

7pm-11pm PT The Jason Smith Show With Mike Harmon

11pm-3am PT The Ben Maller Show

Saturday

11am-12pm PT The Coachella Valley Sports Report with Coach B

12pm-1pm PT The National Prep Sports Report with Coach B

Arrington’s background in broadcasting spans more than a decade. He previously served

as an on-air personality for FOX Sports AM 1350 in Riverside, 98.9 FM in Las Vegas, and 910 AM in Phoenix. His career began at KCAA in San Bernardino, where he co-hosted for two years before launching his own show and building a following across Southern California.

“We started doing high school all-star games, banquets, and even scholarships,” said Arrington. “That’s when we knew grassroots was the way to grow, even in radio.”

He now hosts the National Prep Sports Report, which he plans to expand beyond Palm Springs into Las Vegas and potentially Phoenix. The show aims to treat high school athletes with the same spotlight as professionals—many of whom now boast name, image, and likeness deals and millions of followers on social media.

“These kids are building brands,” he said. “And we want to cover them like professionals.”

Arrington, a Downey High School Class of 1993 graduate, moved his family to Fontana in 2005 as they began looking for a permanent home. All three of his children have graduated from Etiwanda High School.

Despite challenges in launching a station—including the financial strain of taking equity from their Fontana home—Arrington says the sacrifice has been worth it.

“The toughest part is getting people to believe in sales and advertising,” he said. “But this is something tangible. My daughter told me she’s proud of me. That made it all worth it.”

And while his wife Brandi isn’t a sports fan herself, Arrington credits her steady guidance as essential to his vision.

“She’ll tell me whether something makes sense or not,” he said. “Everyone in some form or fashion is connected to sports—even if they don’t like it.”

Arrington maintains that AM radio remains vital, especially for sports content.

“There’s this misconception that AM isn’t important,” he said. “But the data shows sports programming does really well. People still want a local voice—and that’s what we’re delivering.”

Listeners can tune in to FOX Sports 1270 AM throughout the Coachella Valley and as far as Beaumont and Banning, or stream globally via the iHeart Radio app.

Follow @foxsportsps on Instagram and X, or visit foxsportspalmsprings.com for streaming, schedules, and local coverage updates.

Retail Theft Down 13% in San Bernardino’s Southern District as Police Ramp Up Felony Enforcement

Retail theft in San Bernardino’s Southern District is down 13% year-to-date, a promising trend highlighted by San Bernardino Police Department leadership during Coffee With a Cop on July 15 at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

Southern District Lieutenant Nick Oldendorf attributed the decline to targeted felony enforcement and proactive work by the department’s retail crime task force.

“With Prop 36, it now makes it a felony,” Oldendorf said. “They’re doing 2–3 [felony retail theft cases] per week. We’re going to push forward for results on the retail task force.”

Oldendorf added that the department will soon deploy new surveillance integration tools in collaboration with local businesses. “They’ll soon be able to place a device inside local stores to access the businesses’ surveillance,” he said.

According to Oldendorf, the task force has made an impact

at key hotspots including Target, Marshalls, Food 4 Less, and WSS Shoes, where repeat offenders had previously driven up theft rates.

“We’re going after the locations that show an increase,” he said. “We started doing undercover operations, and the theft numbers immediately started going down—word travels very fast.”

The Southern District Crime Statistics through June 2025 show consistent year-over-year improvement in nearly all categories. According to Oldendorf:

Burglary: down 27%

Larceny: down 26%

Shoplifting: down 13%

Motor vehicle theft: down 11%

Property crime overall: down 24%

Violent crime: down 19%

Although violent incidents like homicide increased slightly, most serious crimes— including robbery and aggravated assault—declined.

Looking ahead, SBPD Public Information Officer Chris Gray announced that the department will host its second Chief’s Luncheon of the year. “Funds generated will go straight to our unit and are funneled to youth events,” Gray said, noting that proceeds help support youth initiatives like Project Fighting Chance, soccer drills, and youth basketball competitions.

Another community event that SBPD is also preparing for is National Night Out, which will take place Tuesday, August 5, at 4 PM at Lytle Creek Park.

“August is hot, and we need trees—and Lytle Creek has trees,” Oldendorf said, expecting more than 2,000 attendees. The event will feature waterthemed activities and familyfriendly programming.

From felony-level enforcement to community engagement, SBPD officials say their data-driven approach is working.

“Our team is making an impact, and the numbers speak for themselves,” Oldendorf said.

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Southern District Lieutenant Nick Oldendorf speaking during the July 15th Coffee with a Cop meeting at the Double Tree by Hilton on Hospitality Lane.

Op-Eds Public Safety

Top 100 Films of the 21st Century—Curated by SBVC Film Professor Lucas Cuny

After spending time compiling my Top 100 films of the 21st century, a clear pattern started to emerge.

In looking back at the past 24 years of cinema, I noticed how things have come full circle. The early 2000s marked the end of the independent film wave of the 1990s—when filmmakers were focused on character, realism, and story over scale. That was followed by a long stretch where high-concept and tentpole movies dominated theaters.

But in the last four or five years, there's been a clear return to independent, character-driven, low-concept films. You can see it reflected in the alignment between recent Oscar winners and Independent Spirit Award recipients. Anora and American Fiction are just two examples of this shift.

Here are the top 25 films that best represent the first 24 years of 21st-century filmmaking:

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood 1 Poor Things 2 Up in the Air 3 Sin Nombre 4 There Will Be Blood 5 Sideways 6 The Man Who Wasn't There 7 Adaptation. 8 Gran Torino 9 Before Night Falls 10 Traffic 11 Almost Famous 12 Y Tu Mamá También 13 Her 14 Donnie Darko 15 The Royal Tenenbaums 16 Memento 17 The Visitor 18 Gangs of New York 19 Far from Heaven 20 Igby Goes Down 21 Mystic River 22 Seabiscuit 23 The Cooler 24 American Splendor 25

To see the complete Top 100 list, visit letterboxd.com/prof_c/list/prof-cs-top100-of-the-21st-century/

Representatives Must Act to Protect Our Health & Future, Not Polluters

I'm deeply disappointed in every legislator who voted for one of the most harmful bills in history, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill."

Many people in our state and nationwide likely don't understand what this legislation means for our families and communities. Here's a breakdown of how some parts of this bill will directly affect us:

Phase out tax credits for wind and solar power, which will drive up our energy.

Withdraw aid for agencies like FEMA that monitor extreme weather, leaving

communities vulnerable to climate disaster. Throws millions of children, seniors, and families off Medicaid and food assistance.

Republicans cheered about taking away healthcare, gutting clean energy programs, selling public lands, and giving massive tax breaks to billionaires. Policy reflects values, and I am horrified by the values represented in this bill and by every legislator who voted for it. We won't forget this.

We must fight back by advocating for policies and voting for politicians who will protect people and the planet over corporate polluters.

SBPD Officer Involved Shooting Investigation

On Monday, July 14, 2025, at approximately 3:53 p.m., an officer from the San Bernardino Police Department, assigned to the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Taskforce, served a search warrant in the 800 block of West 4th Street in Beaumont, CA, with assistance from the Beaumont Police Department. During the service of the warrant, taskforce members encountered a suspect armed with a firearm, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.

Officers immediately rendered lifesaving aid; however, the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, in coordination with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, is conducting the investigation.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is urging anyone with information about this case to contact Master Investigator David Sandoval at (760) 770-2236 or via email at ddsandov@riversidesheriff.org.

Fatal Traffic Collision in Colton

On July 12, 2025, at approximately 8:24 AM, Colton Police Officers responded to a report of a traffic collision near the intersection of South La Cadena Drive and “O” Street in the City of Colton. Upon arrival, officers discovered a pedestrian had been struck by a 2021 Toyota Camry while attempting to cross the street. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Camry was uninjured and cooperated with the investigation.

The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending notification to the next of kin.

The Colton Police Department, Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and is conducting the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Officer Alyssa Jacobson at (909) 370-5000 or via email (ajacobson@coltonca.gov). If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the We-Tip hotline at 1800-78-CRIME or visit http://www.wetip.com. Refer to case #25-03751.

Illegal Fireworks Crackdown Results in Over 60 Citations in Riverside

Acollaborative effort between Riverside Police, Riverside Fire, and the City’s Code Enforcement Division resulted in 65 administrative citations for illegal fireworks, each carrying a $1,500 fine.

With the support of amended Riverside Municipal Code sections 1.18.010, 1.18.020, and 1.18.040, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) were used in the days leading up to and on July 4th to assist police, fire, and code enforcement teams in detecting, recording, and documenting illegal fireworks violations from the air. Five enforcement teams were positioned

throughout the city, focusing on areas with a history of high illegal fireworks activity, as well as locations identified through dispatch calls and 311 Call Center complaints.

When a sUAS recorded a violation, teams collected video evidence to pinpoint the property of origin. Before issuing a citation, each case was carefully verified by the sUAS operator, visual observer, code enforcement officer, and often additional police and fire personnel.

From June 27th to July 4th, the City of Riverside’s Public Safety Communications Center received 547 calls for service related to fireworks, up from 477 in 2024.

PHOTO LUCAS CUNY
Select films from Lucas Cuny’s list of the 100 best films of the 21st century include titles like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Poor Things, Up in the Air, Sin Nombre, There Will Be Blood, Sideways, The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Adaptation.

Loma Linda University Health Honors 15 Years of Life-Changing Cleft Care at Emotional Reunion

Loma Linda University Health hosted its 15year reunion for cleft lip and craniofacial patients, a heartwarming event filled with games, reunions that brought together former and current patient families, and a mobile dental clinic on Sunday, July 13.

Among those came to celebrate was Martha ContrerasFlores of San Bernardino, whose son Logan Flores, now 15, was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. She first learned about his condition during a 3D ultrasound at seven months pregnant, when she noticed that there was a shadow around his face.

She says she knew something was wrong. She was referred to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where Logan underwent coordinated, multidisciplinary care, including the use of an innovative pre-surgical device called the PNAM (Presurgical Nasal Alveolar Molding).

“These reunions are more than a celebration,” said Dr. Jung Wei “Anna” Chen, chair, and program director of pediatric dentistry at Loma Linda University

School of Dentistry. “They provide a sense of belonging. Older patients become a mirror for younger ones, and parents connect in ways that build a support network. It’s powerful. Kids born with cleft often ask, ‘Why am I different?’ Even after successful surgery, their emotional needs remain, and we’re here for them.”

Infants born with cleft lip and palate often face a range of complex, lifelong health challenges that require specialized, coordinated care. At Loma Linda University Health, the craniofacial team provides comprehensive treatment that begins at birth and continues through adolescence. The team includes:

Pediatrician

Plastic surgeon

Feeding consultant

Speech pathologist

Ear, nose, and throat specialist

Pediatric dentist

Orthodontist

Oral surgeon

Prosthodontist

Social worker

General dentist

This multidisciplinary team works together to address each patient’s medical, dental, developmental, and emotional needs at every stage of their growth.

ICE Raids Target Day Laborers in Inland Empire; Over a Dozen Arrested in Riverside, San Bernardino

in the

With summer here, many families are left without the daily support of school cafeterias. To help bridge this nutritional gap, Kaiser Permanente Southern California is spreading the word that the Summer EBT program — also known as SUN Bucks —is now available to eligible families. This initiative provides $120 per eligible school-aged child to help families buy groceries during the summer months.

Immigrant rights advocates across the Inland Empire say federal immigration agents have intensified their presence, targeting day laborers and other workers without criminal records in cities like Montclair, Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino.

One of the most visible arrests happened Tuesday, when 30-year-old Honduran gardener Dennis Guillen was detained at the Ontario Advanced Surgery Center. Witnesses say he fled inside after spotting ICE agents, who followed him in. Nurses at the clinic demanded a warrant, but none was presented.

In response to my inquiry for KVCR, the Department of Homeland Security claimed Guillen was evading officers and alleged clinic staff assaulted agents. Clinic administrators declined to comment.

Javier Hernandez of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice says communities will continue deploying Rapid Response teams at known ICE hotspots.

“We try to the best of our abilities and to the best of our capacity,” he said, “to really meet the needs of these families that are affected by these detention and deportations as well.”

Day laborer sites hit hard by raids. Observers and workers vow to protect one another Since June, day laborer sites have been under heightened surveillance by Rapid Response networks, especially Home Depot stores. Raids earlier this week at locations in Riverside and San Bernardino led to more than a dozen arrests, according to the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (PEOC) and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.

Jornaleros (day laborers) at the Riverside Home Depot say Border Patrol agents began by arresting workers at a taco stand across the street before moving into the parking lot.

One worker, who declined to share his name, said he was inside his truck when he witnessed the chaos unfold.

“I was here inside my work truck, that’s when I saw more workers running away,” he said. “Then suddenly there was a white truck that got in front of me and three agents got out with firearms. Then another black Suburban appeared. At that point, I said, ‘If he tries to block me off, I have no choice but to try to ram through it.’”

He emphasized that if agents identified themselves clearly, workers would likely comply. But when they appear suddenly and aggressively, the situation feels like a kidnapping.

“If they come up to my truck and break my window to try to get me, just like they don’t know me, I don’t know them,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re immigration or kidnappers. I have to save my life. Now, if it’s clear it’s Border Patrol and they identify themselves, some folks might run, but I think most workers respect that and will comply. But if they treat us like criminals, it’s not fair for us.”

“It’s true. We don’t have papers, we are undocumented, but we’re simply here to work and make a living.”

Fannely Millan of PEOC says her organization has tracked these actions since President Trump’s inaugaration in January. She returned to the Riverside Home Depot following the raid on Wednesday, distributing Know Your Rights cards and checking in with workers about detained family and friends.

“We’re not going to be able to prevent every raid or be at every raid,” said Millan. “Not unless we get help from our community.”

She says she’s out there nearly every week because of her own immigrant roots.

“My family had to leave my home country due to safety reasons, and many of these workers share my same story,” Millan said. “Day laborers, citizens, asylum seekers and undocumented people alike make America what is. We have to respect that this is a country of immigrants.”

Caleb Soto, worker rights director with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), says his group is working with PEOC to launch a national campaign calling out ICE raids on Home Depot properties. The company has yet to respond to a formal letter.

Soto believes the April raid in Pomona, where nearly a dozen workers were arrested, was a precursor to the more aggressive tactics being deployed now.

“They saw Pomona as a place they could target,” he said. “Now it’s happening daily. These aren’t isolated incidents: this is a coordinated program of terror.”

‘Elections have consequences’ on what Trump’s policies could mean for immigrants and the larger Inland Empire economy

Paul Granillo, head of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, worries the recent surge in enforcement could have lasting economic consequences in a region where industries like construction, farming and food service depend on immigrant labor.

“Elections have consequences,” said Granillo. “What we’re seeing now is a strain away from what [President Trump] ran on, with negative potential impacts for regions like the Inland Empire.”

Granillo said workers coming to the U.S. often want only to support their families, not stay permanently — but the current system gives them few options.

This article was originally published by our media partner The Frontline Observer.

PHOTO IC4IJ
In this screenshot of video shared by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, 30-year-old Honduran gardener Dennis Guillen is being detained at the Ontario Advanced Surgery Center by two ICE agents. Not seen
video are nurses who attempted to block Guillen's attempt after ICE failed to show a warrant.
PHOTO LLUCH
Logan Flores and his mother Martha Contreras-Flores.
PHOTO LLUCH
Aleyssa Alvarez, 9 months, enjoying the pool at the event.

Missing Grandfather: Naiping Hou, 74, Kidnapped from Rancho Cucamonga Home Amid Rise in Crypto-Targeted Crimes

Naiping Hou, 74, has been missing since March; in May, after weeks of receiving unusual text messages from someone posing as him, his family requested a welfare check—leading authorities to find his Rancho Cucamonga home completely emptied of furniture, personal belongings, and vehicles, with over $1 million in assets missing.

Community News

Authorities are urgently investigating the kidnapping of 74-year-old Naiping Hou, who was last seen on March 18, 2025, at his home in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has officially classified the case as a kidnapping.

Naiping Hou, a Chinese immigrant, built a peaceful life over several decades in the United States—devoted to family, hard work, and community. He and his wife settled in Rancho Cucamonga more than 20 years ago, where they raised their family and enjoyed a quiet retirement filled with hobbies like woodworking and ping pong at the local recreation center.

Naiping is a male, 5’07” tall, weighing about 170 Lbs., grey hair (which might be dyed brown or black), and dark brown eyes. He has a birthmark on his left upper shoulder and a surgery scar on his lower back.

The Hou family has long supported causes, including

Liquiform Technologies, Inc. in Rancho Cucamonga, CA seeks Electrical Engineer to design/develop systems for 3D roof printing and smart roofing tech. Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Eng. or related field req. Contact Morris Valladares at (951) 226-6609 to schedule an interview.

higher education institutions like USC and public safety organizations.

Naiping’s disappearance occurred while his wife was abroad visiting relatives in China. Following his last known sighting, his family began receiving only text messages from Naiping — no voice calls. Over time, the language, tone, and grammar of those texts began to feel suspiciously unlike his father, prompting concern that someone else might be using his phone.

On May 4, 2025, a welfare check was requested by the family — and what authorities found was deeply alarming. Naiping’s home had been completely emptied. Personal belongings, vehicles, and even furniture were gone. The house had been freshly painted, suggesting it had been cleared out weeks before.

Investigators later discovered that over $1 million had been drained from Naiping’s financial accounts, much of it converted into cash, gold, and cryptocurrency. Several unauthorized transactions had occurred, including the sale of his vehicles, transfer of personal assets, and an attempt to lease out his home.

Authorities believe the suspects may be operating out of both the Los Angeles area and Inland Empire, using highly deceptive and coordinated tactics. They are considered dangerous.

Though the motive remains under investigation, one possible angle is emerging: Naiping’s son, Wen Hou, is the Chief Investment Officer at Coincident Capital, a cryptocurrency hedge fund based in Las Vegas. As crypto investments become more prominent, families of investors are increasingly being targeted. Similar cryptorelated kidnappings have been reported in Florida, Las Vegas, Chicago, Connecticut, and across Europe, involving abductions, ransom demands, and financial extortion.

In Naiping’s case, no ransom demand has been made, and there has been no confirmed contact from him since March. He has simply vanished.

The Hou family is offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information that leads to Naiping’s safe return or the identification and arrest of those responsible.

San Bernardino County Taskforce Confiscates 28,050 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks, Issues 115 Citations

Community News

Investigators from San Bernardino County Fire partnered with the Chino Valley Fire District along with the Colton, Rancho Cucamonga, and Palm Springs Fire Departments to prevent dangerous and illegal fireworks from entering local communities. Since May, teams conducted fireworks interdiction operations targeting entry points along major routes such as the I-15 from Nevada and carried out proactive patrols throughout the county on Independence Day.

As a result of these combined efforts, the Fireworks Interdiction Taskforce issued 115 citations and confiscated a total of 28,050 pounds of illegal fireworks. Each citation carries a $1,250 fine, resulting in $143,750 in penalties for violations this season. These operations are part of a broader effort to reduce the use of illegal fireworks and protect residents, first responders, and property during wildfire season.

The San Bernardino County Fire Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) once again activated the Illegal Fireworks Reporter, a public-facing reporting tool used to gather and investigate complaints. With over 760 complaints received, investigators identified areas of high activity and deployed targeted patrols. Complaints from incorporated areas were forwarded to local law enforcement agencies.

“San Bernardino County Fire remains ready to protect our communities from the harm caused by illegal fireworks,” said Fire Marshal Monica Ronchetti. “We thank the dedicated taskforce members for their work and the public for helping us track and stop this dangerous activity. As wildfire conditions grow more severe each year, our focus on prevention remains stronger than ever. If you see something, say something. Call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-47-ARSON (1-800-4727766) or visit WeTip.com.”

All confiscated fireworks are turned over to the California State Fire Marshal’s Office for safe disposal.

Under California law, fireworks that explode, shoot into the air, or travel along the ground are considered dangerous and are illegal without a proper permit. This includes firecrackers, mortars, roman candles, skyrockets, and any modified or altered “safe and sane” fireworks.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks are the leading cause of fires in the United States on the Fourth of July. Beyond property damage and wildfires, fireworks can cause life-altering injuries, distress to military veterans living with PTSD, and harm to household pets.

San Bernardino County Fire urges residents to celebrate responsibly and report illegal activity. Fire safety is a shared responsibility. Report illegal fireworks and get fireworks safety tips at sbcfire.org/fireworks.

PHOTO HOU FAMILY
PHOTO SBCOFD
San Bernardino County Fire investigators inspect a trailer filled with illegal fireworks seized during interdiction operations aimed at keeping communities safe.

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