July 9, 2010 > Illegal Fireworks Confiscation Illegal Fireworks Confiscation Submitted By courtesy of Milpitas Fire Department The Fire Marshal's Investigations Unit conducted an annual Fireworks Suppression Operation on Sunday, July 4. Arson Investigator Eric Emmanuele, with the assistance of eight Milpitas Fire Aides and six Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) volunteers were able to locate and recover 893 illegal fireworks. The operation places six teams consisting of a Fire Aide and a RACES volunteer out in the community. These teams locate those displaying illegal fireworks and notify Arson Investigator. This operation netted 602 illegal fireworks on July 4 last year. Of the 893 illegal Fireworks confiscated this year, 318 of them were designed to be shot in the air. 15 of these were professional grade, 2 inch aerial mortars. An additional five of the recovered fireworks are classified as "destructive devises" by the California Health and Safety code. Nationally, more than 8,000 Americans are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks; with over half the injuries being burns to the hands, eyes, and head. Annually, fire departments responded to more than 25,000 fires started by fireworks alone. This is the third year in a row that Milpitas did not have any fires started by fireworks and no reports of injuries caused by fireworks were received.