HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07292014 - FPD PR.1RECOMMENDATION(S):
PRESENTATION recognizing Fire District investigators for their arrest of three individuals selling illegal fireworks
and seizure of approximately 3,000 pounds of dangerous materials.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
On June 26, 2014, the District's fire investigators, along with officers of the Pittsburg Police Department and the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), arrested three individuals selling illegal fireworks
throughout the Bay Area. After the arrest, the investigators confiscated approximately 1.5 tons of fireworks from two
vehicles and a storage unit.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 07/29/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen,
Director
Mary N. Piepho, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director
Contact: Robert Marshall, (925)
941-3520
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 29, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
PR.1
To:Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:Jeff Carman, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Date:July 29, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:PRESENTATION Recognizing Fire Investigators for Arrest of Individuals Selling Illegal Fireworks and Seizure of
Dangerous Materials
ATTACHMENTS
Operation Big Bang
PowerPoint
Contra Costa County Fire Fire Investigation UnitOperation Big BangFireworks Confiscation 20141
July 4th2013Piittsburg/Baypoint area, July 4, 20132
We needed 2014 to be different•Attempted to get multiple agencies together•Staffing issues in all agencies•Early June started to peruse Craigslist–Located a seller–Many postings, pictures of large quantities–Preliminary work done•Employed multiple agencies–Pittsburg PD–CalFire–Contra Costa Fire Investigators3
Agencies came up with strategies•Looked at undercover buys•Had surveillance–Identified suspects•2 day surveillance operation•Second day of surveillance investigators observed suspects making a transfer of fireworks between vehicles•Arrests made of two suspects4
Suspect vehicles5
Truck had 507 pounds of fireworks6
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Car had 85 pounds of fireworks8
By way of comparison40 pounds of fireworks in a car9
Aftermath10
Search•In searching the vehicles investigators found evidence of a storage facility•Storage facility was located in Antioch near the workplace of a third suspect•Third suspect arrested, and storage facility was searched11
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Storage unit had 2497 pounds13
That is nearly 1.5 tons14
Located in a residential neighborhood15
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Fireworks loaded on to a truck18
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Sophisticated BusinessHad catalogsAppeared to have a business planPerhaps going on for multiple yearsPurchased for $4000 to $8000 in IndianaWould be sold for approximately $100,00020
Logging into evidence21
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Press Coverage27
The Three Suspects28
Aftermath•Working to follow‐up regarding transport–Working with several agencies•Federal DoT•CHP•ATF•Regarding Storage and Disposal–California State Fire Marshal’s Office–Had an in person visit by the SFM29
We Believe We Had an Effect•2013 incidents–35 fires, over 100 acres burned•2014 Incidents–24 fires, less than 10 acres burned•Of particular note, acreage of fires way down this year•Combination of the seizure, the press coverage, and our staffing model30
Thank you for your continued support!31