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Illegal Fireworks Rattle South Coast, Annoy Residents

Some  loud blasts people are hearing at night on the South Coast could be illegal fireworks going off.

There have been numerous complaints to police and sheriff's deputies about the explosions.

One hotspot is Santa Barbara's Westside.

"I have a two and a half year old daughter," says resident Nick Bodden. "It sounds like gunshots."

Santa Barbara City Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez says he's upset too. "I hear my neighbor's dogs start barking as soon as the bangs go off," he says, "so it's pretty inconsiderate of people."

Safe and sane fireworks will be sold in communities like Santa Maria and Fillmore prior to the Fourth of July, but they can only be used in those jurisdictions.

Santa Barbara City Fire Marshall Joe Poire says that using them anywhere else is illegal.

"If you have fireworks, we're going to take them. It doesn't matter if they're safe and sane, it doesn't matter how much you paid for them," Poire says.

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Andy worked at KCLU from 2016 until 2022.
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