Fire officials are relying on their eyes and ears to gauge what kind of Fourth of July it will be. With near-record heat this weekend on the heels of an extremely dry last six months, they're closely watching this week's weather forecast.
At the same time, they're listening for the telltale signs of fireworks being lit off early in preparation for Independence Day on Thursday.
The state-approved "safe and sane" fireworks are only allowed in a few cities, and the more powerful aerial pyrotechnics are illegal in all of Sonoma County.
Fireworks booths opened last week in Sebastopol, Rohnert Park booths opened Sunday, and Petaluma and Cloverdale allow sales beginning today.
All fireworks, even the state-approved ones, are outlawed in all other Sonoma County cities and in the unincorporated areas. They are also prohibited in Napa County except in St. Helena.
"You can't go to Rohnert Park or Sebastopol and come back into Santa Rosa and use them," said Santa Rosa Fire Department Battalion Chief Jack Piccinini. "Even those that are legal in terms of the state fire marshal, they can't be carried into or used in the unincorporated areas of the county or the city.
"Anything that pops, goes bang or flies in the air is illegal."
Petaluma Battalion Chief Jeff Holden said it has been an abnormally quiet weekend for early bird fireworks users.
"The weekend before the Fourth is usually pretty busy," he said. "But it's been pretty mellow. I don't know if the heat's got everyone scared or what. When it feels hot, it seems like it's more dangerous."
While residents in some areas have reported hearing fireworks being set off already, there haven't been any reports of fires as a result. Fire agencies will have extra patrols out on Thursday responding to reports of illegal or unsafe fireworks use.
The holiday this year comes at the end of the second-driest half of the weather year, dating back to Press Democrat reports from 1931. This rain year, which ran from Jan. 1 through Sunday, yielded only 6.71 inches of precipitation, just more than the 6.57 inches recorded in June 1976.
The average full-year rain total over the past 30 years is 32.18 inches. This year, Santa Rosa received 26.47 inches. Today starts a new rain season.
The high temperatures this weekend were just below records, too. Saturday's high reached 102 in Santa Rosa, one degree shy of the record set in 1934 and tied in 1972. Sunday's 96 fell short of the record 101 set in 1972.
Petaluma recorded a 102, and Healdsburg hit 98 Sunday.
Forecasts call for a hot week, with the hottest day Tuesday at 96. On July Fourth, the high is forecast to be about 92.
Cooling is on the way, though, with next Friday through Sunday topping out in the low to mid-80s, which is the normal range for the dates.
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