California residents who lit illegal fireworks over the July 4 holiday may be in for a nasty surprise in the mail thanks to covert fire department operations.

After the tragic explosion in Āliamanu took six lives on New Year’s Eve, Civil Beat took a deep look at Hawaiʻi’s illegal fireworks problem. With new fireworks laws in place and drones in the air for the first time,

Riverside, Hemet and Brea are among the cities launching drones to film the offenses. Increasingly, property owners will be held liable for fines.