Can I report my neighbor for setting off fireworks in Sacramento? Here’s what to know
The Fourth of July is still a few days away but that hasn’t stopped Sacramento-area residents from starting their celebrations a little early.
Some social media users have already reported seeing — and hearing — explosions in the night sky.
“I honestly don’t get what’s wrong with some people. I love fireworks. Spend several hundred a year on them,” Sacramento resident Forest1395101 wrote on Reddit. “But ... why do some (people) feel the need to blast them at 2 a.m. at random days of the year?!”
When it comes to lighting fireworks, Sacramento residents must follow several state rules and regulations dictating everything from the types of fireworks allowed to the times they can be set off.
What are the rules for lighting fireworks in Sacramento County?
Here’s what Sacramento County allows:
When can residents light fireworks in Sacramento County?
According to a June 18 news release from Sacramento County, residents can light so-called “safe and sane” fireworks between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day starting June 28 and running through Thursday, July 4.
Those include fountains, sparklers and smokeballs.
“Any firework that goes up in the air or explodes is illegal and dangerous,” the county said in the release.
If someone is caught setting off illegal fireworks in Sacramento County, the release said, penalties can include jail time and fines of up to $10,000.
Can I report my neighbor for lighting fireworks after July 4?
After 10 p.m. Thursday, “safe and sane fireworks are no longer allowed to be set off,” Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Metro Fire Department, told The Sacramento Bee.
Wilbourn said residents can report firework use by calling the Sacramento County Sheriff’s non-emergency hotline at 916-874-5115 or emailing the county at reportfireworks@saccounty.gov.
“If you are going to make a report, have a description, an address of where the incident is occurring and photos or any other documentation,” Wilbourn said.
How can I report illegal fireworks in Sacramento?
If you hear or see illegal fireworks being set off, the Sacramento Metro Fire Department said residents can report incidents to local law enforcement and fire agencies.
“The challenge we have is people using the 9-1-1 system to report these incidents, and it causes the system to jam,” Wilbourn said. “We receive over a thousand calls just on the Fourth of July for not life-threatening emergencies.”
When reporting an incident, the Sacramento Metro Fire Department said to provide the exact location of the fireworks being set off and be prepared for longer wait times.
“While law enforcement and fire agencies cannot respond to every firework-related call, they prioritize responses to ensure public safety,” the department said.
Here’s who to contact in Sacramento County, according to the Sacramento Metro Fire Department:
- Unincorporated areas of Sacramento County: Call 916-874-5115 or email reportfireworks@saccounty.gov.
- City of Sacramento: Call 916-808-FIRE or use the Sacramento Fire Department App.
- Folsom: Email fireworks@folsom.ca.us or submit a request online at seeclickfix.com/folsom.
- Elk Grove: Call 916-714-5115 or email fireworks@elkgrovepd.org
- Rancho Cordova: Call 916-362-5115 or use the Rancho Cordova Connect App.
- Citrus Heights: Call 916-727-5500 or submit an online request at seeclickfix.com.
- Galt: Call 209-366-7000.
“Do not report the use of fireworks or need for police, fire or medical response on social media or Apps such as Nextdoor, WhatsApp, or Nail ‘Em,” the Sacramento Metro Fire Department said. “These forums are not routinely monitored by public safety agencies.”
