Riverside County Fire Department - Fireworks in Riverside County

Fireworks are prohibited in Riverside County.

You may not sell, buy, transport, store, or use fireworks in the county. Many of the cities in Riverside County also prohibit fireworks. The cities of Coachella, Cathedral City, Indio, and Blythe are the only cities that allow the sale and use of State Fire Marshal Approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks. However, these fireworks must not be transported, used, or possessed outside of the cities where they were purchased.

Riverside County Ordinance No. 858 was adopted on June 6, 2006, by the Board of Supervisors. The ordinance was enacted to address a growing problem of the sale, purchase, use, storage, and disposal of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The personal use and sale of illegal fireworks has become a serious threat to the safety, peace, and health of the public. The ordinance provides for an increase in penalties for the use, sale, transportation, and manufacturing of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County.

Section 7(a) of Ordinance 858 states that, "Any person who violates any provision of this part is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins wants all residents to have a safe and enjoyable 4 ^th of July Holiday. “It is important to consider the dangers of illegal fireworks. We encourage residents to attend organized professional shows with their families. Don’t let an arrest or tragedy ruin a day of celebration. The message should be loud and clear, Fireworks are dangerous and they are illegal,” said Chief Hawkins.

Please be aware that all fireworks (including sparklers) are illegal in Riverside County. All fireworks are illegal because they cause serious injuries and they often cause fires. The vegetation in Riverside County is extremely dry and it is very easy to start brush fires with fireworks. Southern California continues to experience a record drought and the fire danger is a major reason to not use fireworks. Did you know that the person who causes a brush fire is responsible for the suppression costs? The cost of a small (couple of acres) fire can be in the thousands of dollars. The suppression cost for larger fires can cost millions. It just isn't worth the risk when there are great fireworks shows throughout the County. Click here for a list of shows in Riverside County.

Wild fires caused by fireworks are not the only danger; fireworks could easily land on an innocent bystander or child and cause serious burn injuries. Is it worth injuring someone? Fireworks set off in the "safety" of the neighborhood sidewalk can easily land on a house or a car, which can start a fire. Is it worth the excitement of watching something explode when it might cost someone his or her car or home?

One more point to consider: The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department Law Enforcement Officers will be aggressively enforcing Riverside County Ordinance 858, as well as other laws pertaining to the sale, use, transportation, storage, and manufacturing of illegal fireworks. Those caught with fireworks are subject to citation, fines and/or arrest, and confiscation of illegal fireworks. It is in the best interest of everyone to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

2005 Nationwide Fireworks Statistics

Barbecues, family picnics and neighborhood get-togethers are common scenes on the 4th of July. We all look forward to celebrating our country's Independence Day. However, injuries and fires caused by fireworks can ruin an otherwise enjoyable holiday. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission latest data, fireworks accounted for approximately 10,800 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in the year 2005. These figures do not include those treated in non-emergency room settings or those left untreated. One of the reasons fireworks injuries continue to occur is because people don't consider how dangerous these devices can be. People often don't realize - until they are injured - that the risk of blindness or injury outweighs the excitement of taking risks with fireworks.

Injury Statistics:

More than twice as many males as females were injured.
The highest injury estimates were for firecrackers (26%), rockets (21%) and sparklers (11%).
Among different types of fireworks, firecrackers were associated with the greatest number of injuries at 1,700, followed by Sparklers and Rockets at 1,100.
Sparklers accounted for about half the injuries to children under 5 years of age.
Sparklers can heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold.
Parts of the body most often injured are the hands- 2000 injuries, eyes -1600 injuries and head/face – 1300 injuries.

Don’t put yourself, your family or friends at risk of becoming a statistic. Abide by the laws where you live. Fireworks laws are in place for safety reasons.