Tougher regulations have made it harder to sell fireworks in Riverside, but those still in business are donating their goods to keep kids safe.
Smoke bombs, sparklers and thing that go boom – kids love fireworks almost as much as the adults who make the first introduction. Nine firework tents opened for business in Riverside this morning, a huge change from years past. Seller Zeke Young has seen the reduction in fireworks stands.
"There use to be like 24, 25 tents here in town and over the years it's just kind of evolved. And of course there's been changes in the city."
Young's Red-X Fireworks tent has been in business for 62 years. He says tougher regulations and new developments have forced some vendors to fizz out.
"It use to be years and years ago the fireworks stand was the extra income for the city of Riverside, now with Argosy that's taken over that."
Riverside fire chief Gordon Fowlston has made the best of the change. This year Fowlston decided to conduct a firework safety class for children, in conjunction with the opening of firework season. The vendors donated all of the fireworks.
"I think last year there were 10,000 or so injuries from fireworks," noted Fowlston. "We wanted to be proactive and lessen those numbers by starting to teach kids how to properly use them."
It is that proper use that will help fireworks fans enjoy the flashes, booms and bangs.
The city of Riverside does make quite a bit of money during firework season. The firework license costs each vendor $1500, and of course, the city benefits from sales tax revenue.
