By Mike Kinney
The predicted deluge of illegal fireworks that lit up over Richmond during the Fourth of July weekend left no neighborhood at peace and once again overwhelmed the police and fire departments, according to neighbors, community leaders and officials.
Between Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 2 a.m., the Richmond 911 dispatch center received 328 calls for service related to illegal fireworks. Richmond Fire companies were “extremely busy,” according to Battalion Chief Aaron Osorio in a report shared with Richmond Mayor Tom Butt. Juveniles setting off fireworks caused a quarter-acre fire in the 3100 block of Southhamptom Ct. Large fireworks set off in the 800 block of Banks Drive caused a 3-acre vegetation fire in Point Pinole Park. A large fireworks show also caused a vegetation fire in the 1200 block of Kelsey St.
Photo credit: RPD
The Richmond Police Department will hold a DUI checkpoint in the Richmond Hilltop area on Friday, Jan. 29, from approximately 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Police have been holding checkpoints at DUI crash and arrest hotspots in the city.
“The safety of our community is and always will be our mission,” Sgt. Donovan Decious said. “We are still out there looking for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is still dangerous.”
Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license, police said.
The checkpoint is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.