Full Notification

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department in cooperation with, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Code Enforcement and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors would like to remind the members of the public of the dangers of fireworks.

Avoid the Worst - Obey the Law and Put SAFETY First!

Public safety officials from the County of Riverside would like to ensure that all residents and visitors understand that fireworks are illegal in Riverside County; meaning that you may not sell, purchase, transport, store or use fireworks in the County of Riverside.

The cities of Blythe, Coachella, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and Indio are the only cities which allow the sale and use of State Fire Marshal-approved "Safe and Sane" fireworks. Fireworks purchased in these cities shall not be transported, used or possessed outside of the cities in which they were purchased.

ALL fireworks, including sparklers are illegal in Riverside County. All fireworks are illegal because they cause serious injuries and very often, cause fires. Riverside County has very diverse terrain. The vegetation is very dry, and fireworks can easily start a brush fire.

Individuals who cause a wildfire by using illegal fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs and could be criminally prosecuted. These costs can run into the millions of dollars.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department law enforcement officers and Riverside County Code Enforcement aggressively enforce Riverside County Ordinance 858, as well as other laws pertaining to the sale, transport, manufacturing, storage and use of illegal fireworks. In Riverside County protecting the safety of the public is a top priority and we enforce a "zero tolerance" policy with regard to citizens in possession of illegal fireworks. Those caught with illegal fireworks will be subject to fines, citations, arrest and confiscation of all illegal fireworks. We urge you to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Visit our website at http://www.riversidesheriff.org/fireworks/ to see the many locations throughout southern California that provide fireworks displays for the public this year.

If you would like to report the use or sales of illegal fireworks within the County of Riverside please call 1-800-950-2444, or call one of the non-emergency phone numbers list on our website. You may also report the use of illegal fireworks via the Fireworks Report web form. This form will be available Friday, July 4, 2014 until Sunday, July 6, 2014.