California
An uphill battle as Southern California cities try to combat illegal Fourth of July fireworks
As the Fourth of July looms each year, Southern California’s police and fire agencies battle a predictable crime: illegal fireworks that will be set off for hours on end, rattling neighborhoods and lighting up the sky. The dangerous effects of the illicit devices are just as predictable, among them injuries, fires, dense smoke and emotional trauma to veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress.
To try to get people to stop buying and setting off the illegal devices — from bottle rockets and firecrackers to mortars and aerial shells — local officials for weeks have sent emails, posted on social media and held press conferences, warning of the dangers and cautioning that using them could lead to citations and hefty fines.
On the streets of cities across the region on the Fourth of July, law enforcement will use various strategies to combat the use of such fireworks, with fines and other penalties used as a deterrent. Yet most local officials agree that enforcement is labor-intensive and solving the problem is tricky.
ALSO SEE: July 4th fireworks: New rules, where to watch and tips in Southern California
“It’s an all hands on deck day for us,” said Huntington Beach police Lt. Thoby Archer said. “We’re stretched thin like every coastal city is.”
Every single Huntington Beach police officer will work on the Fourth of July. according to city officials, when calls for service are expected to dramatically rise
Last year, Huntington Beach dispatchers received more than 700 fireworks-related calls, said Jessica Cuchilla, spokeswoman for the police department. That was an increase of about 250 calls from 2022. To combat the increase, the city, like others, has a phone app to report illegal fireworks activity.
The department also has mapped out neighborhoods and addresses that previously have been a problem in an effort to step up patrols in that area. Letters to residents in those neighborhoods were sent prior to the holiday to warn them of the consequences for illegal fireworks activity, Archer said.
Fourth of July house parties increased in the city after the COVID pandemic, which has led to increased firework activity in neighborhoods, the lieutenant said. Any response to a fireworks-related call requires multiple officers.
“Any time someone is going in to potentially cite someone at a party, there’s usually a number of inebriated individuals,” Archer said. “It’s a crowd mentality, so that requires four or more officers to go to a party like that. It’s a huge drain of resources.”
The city’s Fire Department also was preparing by putting together pairs of paramedics to respond to calls. The department was also expecting about double the calls for service, Fire Chief Darrin Witt said.
“Fortunately, we haven’t had large fires, but we have had over the last couple of years some that have turned into full blown residential fires,” Witt said.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, at a press conference in late June, said his department receives a 200 percent increase in 911 calls on the Fourth of July alone, “especially when it gets to the sundown hours when fireworks start to detonate.”
Huntington Beach first responders are not alone.
In Riverside, city officials team up to form task forces, which head out to patrol the city, said Riverside City Councilman Jim Perry. Those five to seven task force teams include one police officer and one firefighter or one code enforcement officer.
“That’s their sole responsibility,” Perry said. “The exception to that would be if the officer is the closest unit to an emergency call.”
Agencies in Corona operate the same way sending out similarly assembled task force teams to patrol the city and issue citations, said Cindi Schmitz, a spokeswoman for the city.
“You can imagine, with over 300 calls just on the evening of the Fourth, that both dispatch and first responders are inundated,” Schmitz said.
San Bernardino city police have officers from its Specialized Enforcement Bureau on firework enforcement units and they start their work several weeks in advance of the holiday, looking for those who sell illegal fireworks, including through social media, in order to prevent them from reaching neighborhoods, Capt. Nelson Carrington said. The units also hand out administrative penalties or criminal citations on the Fourth of July.
“We want to be proactive and prevent injuries,” the captain said. “And there have been fires going on. With high temperatures and dry terrain, the last thing we need is a firework landing in that terrain.”
For most cities, the fine for an illegal fireworks citation is $1,000, but in some cities, the fines increase for repeat violators, or officials have increased the base amounts. In 2021, the Corona City Council voted to increase the fine to up to $5,000 for an illegal fireworks violation.
In Murrieta and Pasadena, that amount could run as high as $50,000, officials said.
The fines from those citations go into the general fund of the city’s budget, officials from Riverside and Huntington Beach said.
But enforcement isn’t as easy as it may seem. In order to hand out a citation, a police officer, arson investigator or code enforcement officer has to personally see someone lighting the explosive, officials said.
In addition, if the culprit does not live at the home where the firework was lit, the homeowner could receive a citation for allowing the activity to take place on property, officials said.
To help, many cities allow residents to report illegal firework activity through apps, websites and phone numbers.
Still, those reports don’t always lead to punishments.
“Many times, by the time officers get there a person has lit the firework and has already gone into their home,” Cuchilla, the Huntington Beach police spokeswoman, said.
“You can see an aerial firework going off a couple blocks away and by the time you get there you’re unable to determine who lit the firework,” said Carrington with San Bernardino police.
Riverside has seen a decrease in the number of citations issued over the past three years. Police handed out 144 citations, with $144,000 in fines, in 2019 and 108 citations in 2020, according to the Riverside City Fire Department. Those totals dropped significantly in 2021, to 31 citations and down to 28 in 2023. Officer Ryan Railsback, spokesman for the city’s police department, said staffing levels went down after the COVID pandemic, meaning less enforcement.
Pasadena also saw significant decreases starting in 2021, going from 64 citations in 2020 to 23 the following year, according to data provided by the city. Lisa Derderian, a city spokeswoman, said “enforcement actions were significantly increased” in 2021 and “the effectiveness of this enforcement is evident in the decline in calls for service and subsequent citations issued.”
The department handed out nine citations in 2022, but went back up to 23 in 2023. The agency did not have estimates on the amount of fines it handed out.
In 2022, Corona doled out $33,000 in fines, more than double the year prior, city data provided by Schmitz showed. However, in 2023, the total decreased dramatically to $5,500 worth of fines.
“We continue with the same approach, but fine-tune and build on what is working,” Schmitz said, adding that the city provides education to the community before the holiday and uses the task force approach for enforcement on the holiday.
However, unlike some other cities, Schmitz said the department has not gleaned any trends in regards to fireworks enforcement from their data, though she did say calls for service are slowly decreasing year over, partly due to the increase in fines and pre-holiday communication, including social media posts and door hangers. The city received 478 calls for service regarding fireworks from July 2 to July 4 last year.
The city also runs a parade, festival and a fireworks show, she said.
“The important takeaway here is that these unnecessary calls for service, since fireworks are illegal in the City of Corona, are taking resources away from our community,” Schmitz said.
Police also try to get illegal fireworks before they hit the streets.
In the last few weeks, San Bernardino police have seized 12,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, Carrington said.
During a press conference last week, Barnes said Orange County deputies had seized more than $10,000 worth of illegal fireworks in contract cities and that the department anticipated seizing an additional $5,000 worth before the holiday.
“That is an increase,” Barnes said in comparison to last year. “It could lead to more opportunities for mishaps and injuries. Any illegal firework we confiscate has the potential for a $1,000 fine, not to mention the liability that would be incurred if you injure somebody or damage a home.”
In Riverside, a 23-year-old man was arrested in late June after officers seized more than 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and 100 homemade destructive devices from his home, officials said. A Riverside bomb squad received a tip that the man was selling fireworks from his Clifton Boulevard home before investigators found the fireworks on a covered patio.
And in Gardena, in what is considered the largest fireworks seizure in state history, officers found 75 tons of illegal fireworks in a warehouse in the 17000 block of Vermont Avenue in late June and needed help from several other agencies, including those from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, to transport the haul to a facility where they could be disposed of safely.
“The objective of our fireworks plan is to improve the quality of life for the residents in the city of Gardena, namely our seniors, our veterans and our pets to ensure community safety,” Gardena police spokesman Lt. Christopher Cuff told reporters on June 26.
California
De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita: live score, updates, highlights from California’s Open Division state championship bowl | Sporting News
MISSION VIEJO, California, Dec. 13 — The No. 7/SN No. 15 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles ended a 14-year state championship drought Saturday night in a 47-13 romp past the No. 15/SN No. 25 De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans in California’s CIF Open Division state championship bowl.
While the win ended Santa Margarita’s drought, it prolonged De La Salle’s own dry spell in championship bowl games, extending the Spartan’s losing streak to eight games in these contests.
Santa Margarita is ranked as high as No. 4 in the country by three selectors (High School Football America, MaxPreps, and USA Today’s Super 25). In the High School Football America rankings, they’re ranked ahead of both the No. 1/SN No. 1 Buford [GA] Wolves and the No. 3/SN No. 5 Carrollton [GA] Trojans – two teams that will play for Georgia’s GHSA Class 6A championship on Tuesday night.
Whether the win over De La Salle can get the Eagles – who will finish the season with three losses at 11-3 – a share of the national title remains to be seen.
De La Salle, meanwhile, ends its season at 12-1.
WATCH ON THE NFHS NETWORK: No. 7/SN No. 15 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles vs. No. 15/SN No. 25 De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans
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Refresh for updates
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End of the fourth quarter: Santa Margarita 47, De La Salle 13
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SANTA MARGARITA 47, DE LA SALLE 13
Santa Margarita gets a pick six to put capper on this one.
Siua Holani with finished touches on this one. 43-yard pick 6. Santa Margarita 47, De La Salle 13. 1:36 4Q. pic.twitter.com/VVVEN5bvr6
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) December 14, 2025
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SANTA MARGARITA 41, DE LA SALLE 13
Johnson finds Gazzaniga for his second touchdown of the game. The tight end entered the game with two touchdown receptions all year, and he’s got two in the state title game.
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End of the third quarter: Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 13
The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.
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SANTA MARGARITA 35, DE LA SALLE 13
De La Salle forces another turnover and converts it to points to give them a glimmer of hope that they can climb out of this deep hole.
Two forced De La Salle turnovers and two Jaden Jefferson touchdowns.
Jefferson is the state record holder in the 100-meter dash 💨
De La Salle cuts the Santa Margarita lead to 35-13 with 4:09 left in the 3rd pic.twitter.com/05dJ7Q9Mmy
— West Coast Preps (@westcoastpreps_) December 14, 2025
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The third quarter is under way, and to make matters worse for De La Salle, Santa Margarita is on offense first.
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End of the second quarter: Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7
The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.
Santa Margarita has been a different team offense since Mosley’s return around midseason. And they’re one half away from a state championship in Carson Palmer’s first year at the helm.
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SANTA MARGARITA 35, DE LA SALLE 7
Just over a minute to play in the first half, Mosley scores again on another short play, and then he adds the 2-point conversion. This feels like it’s over.
Trent Mosley finishes off the half with another touchdown. Also adds run for two-point conversion. 1:07 left. Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7. Complete domination. pic.twitter.com/hMsSsI0svB
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025
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SANTA MARGARITA 27, DE LA SALLE 7
It’s Duce plus a deuce. Santa Margarita marches right back down the field after the Spartans’ touchdown, and Duce Smith carries it in for another touchdown. And even with the score by De La Salle, Santa Margarita still has its biggest lead of the night after converting the 2-point conversion. It’s Johnson to Ryan Clark on the extra two.
Jaion Smith TD. Two-point conversion good. Santa Margarita 27, De La Salle 7 pic.twitter.com/1zpn1ETZyW
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025
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Santa Margarita into the red zone again.
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SANTA MARGARITA 19, DE LA SALLE 7
Helped along by the turnover and a couple of penalties, De La Salle’s offensive line shows some muscle in the trenches and they power their way down near the goal line where Jaden Jefferson carries it across. That felt like a must-score situation, and they get the touchdown. Now, can they stop Santa Margarita’s offense again?
Jaden Jefferson TD. Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 7. 6:43 left in second. pic.twitter.com/QzsKMWP58i
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025
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De La Salle gets its first real break. Mosley fumbles, and the Spartans pounce on it inside the Eagles’ 40. If they want to have any chance of staying in this game, they need to make the most of this short field.
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End of the first quarter: Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 0
The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.
42 seconds left in first quarter. Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle. Luke Gazzaniga TD. About the only thing the Eagles need to work on are PATs. 1 for 3. pic.twitter.com/WA6IY0blgI
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) December 14, 2025
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SANTA MARGARITA 19, DE LA SALLE 0
Johnson finds Luke Gazzaniga on a wide-open post against a blown coverage. It’s too easy for the Eagles right now, and with their elite defense, it’s possible they’ve already scored enough to win this game.
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De La Salle with a quick three-and-out on offense, and they punt on a 4th-and-19. Mosley returns it inside De La Salle’s 35. This is already starting to look ugly.
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SANTA MARGARITA 13, DE LA SALLE 0
Trace Johnson finds Mosley with a short swing pass to the right side of the field, and the senior standout does his thing winding and weaving his way 34 yards through traffic before running over the final defender at the goal line. Again, the early feeling watching this is not good for De La Salle.
What a luxury.
Just get it to Trent Mosley and watch.
Santa Margarita 13, De La Salle 0 (missed PAT)pic.twitter.com/3cp3hBbUJ5
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) December 14, 2025
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Santa Margaria quickly approaching the red zone again.
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De La Salle puts together a good drive to get into position for a short field goal attempt. But it’s blocked by Santa Margarita, ending the scoring threat. If you’re a De La Salle fan, you’re encouraged by the offense being able to move against the Eagles. But combined with the defensive personal fouls on Santa Margarita’s first drive, you also get the feeling early that this could be a really tough night for the Spartans. It’s early, we’ll see how they rebound from the lost scoring opportunity.
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SANTA MARGARITA 7, DE LA SALLE 0
Helped along by a couple of personal foul penalties, Santa Margarita drives quickly on its first possession, scoring on a short run by Trent Mosley out of the Wildcat formation.
Tulane bound Trace Johnson and Griffin Brahm connect get in the red zone.
4⭐️ USC bound Trent Mosley then scores. He’s a freakish talent.
Santa Margarita up 7-0 on De La Salle with 8:00 left in the 1st pic.twitter.com/vpo2yvYp9R
— West Coast Preps (@westcoastpreps_) December 14, 2025
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Santa Margarita won the toss and deferred to the second half. De La Salle picks up one first down against this stout Eagles’ defense before being forced to punt.
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They’re under way in California! This is the final game of California’s high school football season.
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Coming soon!
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De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita start time
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
- Start time: 11 p.m. EST (8 p.m. PST local)
The game between De La Salle and Santa Margarita is being played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.
How can I watch De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita today?
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF HEADLINES
A lawsuit over the death of an 11-year-old California girl who was allegedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family reached a settlement on Friday totaling $31.5m from the city and county of San Diego as well as other groups.
The suit was brought on behalf of the two younger sisters of Arabella McCormack, who died in August 2022. The girls were ages six and seven at the time. Their adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and McCormack’s parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, are facing charges of murder, conspiracy, child abuse and torture. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, and their criminal case is ongoing.
The lawsuit alleged a systemic failure across the city and several agencies and organizations to not report Arabella McCormack’s abuse.
The settlement includes $10m from the city of San Diego, $10m from San Diego county, $8.5m from the Pacific Coast Academy and $3m from the Rock church, the sisters’ attorney, Craig McClellan, said. The school oversaw Arabella McCormack’s home schooling, and her adoptive mother was an ordained elder at the church.
“The amount is going to be enough to take care of the girls for the rest of the lives,” McClellan said. But it “isn’t going to be enough and never could be enough … to replace their sister, nor is it going to erase the memories of what they went through”.
The lawsuit said county social workers did not properly investigate abuse claims and two teachers at the Pacific Coast Academy failed to report the girl’s condition. It also said a San Diego police officer, a friend of the girl’s adoptive mother, gave the family a wooden paddle that they could use to hit their children.
San Diego sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a child in distress at the McCormack home 30 August 2022. They found Arabella McCormack severely malnourished with bruises, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Her sisters are now nine and 11 and living with a foster mother. They are in good health and “doing pretty well considering all things”, McClellan said.
California consistently produces an incredible amount of high school wrestling talent. The current crop of high schoolers from The Golden State has piled up a massive collection of accolades and has major next-level potential. Here’s a look at some of the top wrestlers to watch this year in California.
Michael Bernabe (Fresno) — Freshman, 106 pounds
Bernabe is one of the top freshmen in the country and is currently ranked second nationally at 106 pounds. Bernabe had a productive offseason, placing sixth in Fargo and third at the Super 32. He will be looking to run the table and win a California state title as a freshman, but it will not come easily. He will likely have #3 Luke Loren and #5 Thales Silva, both of whom are also incredible freshmen who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at Super 32, as well as #4 Eli Mendoza.
Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan) — Senior, 120 pounds
Zinkin is one of the nation’s fastest-rising prospects. The two-time California state finalist won his first state championship last season at 113 pounds and followed that up with an eye-popping summer, finishing third at U17 World Team Trials, winning Fargo in the Junior division and looking incredible at Super 32 on his way to the 120-pound belt. Those showings propelled Zinkin from #100 on the 2026 Big Board up to #11. The Oklahoma State commit is currently ranked #2 in the country at 120 pounds and could have a showdown with two-time U17 World Champion Sammy Sanchez this season in his quest to close his career with a second state title.
Watch Zinkin dominate in the Super 32 finals
Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) — Sophomore, 120 pounds
The #1 prospect in the Class of 2028 Big Board is the truth. After winning the U17 World Championships in 2024, Sanchez won a state title as a freshman last season at 106 pounds and then one-upped himself by going back-to-back with his second U17 World title at 51 kg this summer in Athens, helping lead Team USA to the team championship. Sanchez is so much fun to watch, and if we were to get a matchup between him and Zinkin, it could be one of the nation’s most anticipated high school matches of the season.
Watch Sanchez win his second U17 World Championship
Moses Mendoza (Gilroy) — Senior, 132 pounds
Mendoza is another Californian who has made big jumps heading into his senior campaign. The returning state champion for Daniel Cormier’s Gilroy High School team placed third at the state tournament in 2024. He has a lengthy list of freestyle accolades. The Michigan recruit defeated his former high school teammate, Isaiah Cortez, for the Fargo Junior freestyle title at 132 pounds this summer and won Super 32 in October. The nation’s second-ranked 132-pounder could have a big test in front of him for his second state title in #3 Ashton Besmer.
Watch Mendoza win his Super 32 belt
Ashton Besmer (Buchanan) — Senior, 132 pounds
Besmer put together an incredible run to make the U17 World Team at 60 kilograms, punctuated by a sweep of U17 World champion Paul Kenny in the best-of-three championship series. Besmer also notched wins against Moses Mendoza and Manuel Saldate on his way to a Doc B title last season before finishing third at the state tournament. The Army West Point commit has worked his way up to #3 in the national rankings at 132 pounds and could be looking at a rubber match with Mendoza this season. Last year in the Doc B semifinals, Besmer defeated Mendoza 22-15 in a crazy match, but just two weeks later Mendoza got his revenge in the Five Counties finals with a 16-1 tech fall in two periods.
Watch Besmer defeat Saldate for the 2025 Doc B title
Joseph Toscano (Buchanan) — Senior, 144 pounds
The third and final Buchanan wrestler on this list, Toscano is a three-time California state runner-up, He won a Doc B title as a freshman back in 2023, followed by two runner-up finishes, and has also been fourth at Super 32 the last two years. The Cornell commit is looking to get over the final hurdle on his way to a state championship, but it won’t be easy. Along the way, Toscano could match up with the likes of #7 Ivan Arias and #17 Arseni Kikiniou.
Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) — Junior, 144 pounds
Arseni Kikiniou is an interesting prospect and a guy to watch this season. Kikiniou’s father was a Greco-Roman World bronze medalist and Olympian for Belarus before their family moved to the United States, and his influence is evident in Arseni’s wrestling. Arseni claimed a bronze medal in Greco and a silver in freestyle at the U17 World Championships this summer. Arseni has placed second and fifth, respectively, in his first two state tournament appearances. He recently made his commitment to Cornell and will be making a big jump up in weight this season to 144 pounds. It’ll be intriguing to see if his international success translates to even more folkstyle success this season, especially with a possible showdown with future Cornell teammate Toscano on the horizon.
Watch Kikiniou win his U17 Greco-Roman World bronze medal
Mason Ontiveros (Pitman) — Senior, 175 pounds
Ontiveros has had an impressive 2025, finishing second at the state tournament, taking third at NHSCAs, and placing second in Fargo in the Junior division at 175 pounds. This has vaulted Ontiveros up to #6 in the country at the weight. Ontiveros is an Oklahoma recruit who will be looking to close out his career with a state title in what could be an interesting weight class in California. As it currently stands, we could see #7 Mario Carini, #9 Travis Grace, #12 Isai Fernandez and #14 Slava Shahbazyana, along with Ontiveros, all battling it out for the 175-pound California state championship this season.
Watch Ontivero’s win in the 2025 Fargo Junior semifinals
Coby Merrill (JW North) — Senior, 285 pounds
Coby Merrill is one of the most physical wrestlers in the country at any weight class. After state runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore, Merrill dominated the 285-pound field last season, finishing 48-0 with 44 falls. Merrill finished sixth at the U20 World Team Trials this summer and finished second in Fargo. The second-ranked heavyweight in the country is a heavy favorite to win his second state title this season.
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