The City of San Mateo saw a significant decrease in the amount of firework activity this Fourth of July holiday.
SAN MATEO, Calif. — The San Mateo Police Department's comprehensive Fourth of July public safety campaign resulted in a dramatic 77% reduction in illegal fireworks-related calls for service compared to last year, demonstrating the effectiveness of public education, community outreach, targeted enforcement, and the use of innovative technology.
Between July 4 and the early morning hours of July 5, 2026, officers responded to 43 fireworks-related calls, down from 187 calls during the same holiday period in 2025. Our department also made three arrests for illegal possession or use of fireworks, all resulting from proactive officer enforcement.
Recognizing the dangers illegal fireworks pose to neighborhoods, first responders, pets, and the risk of fire, the department launched a robust public education campaign well before America’s 250th birthday.
These proactive efforts included:
- A dedicated episode of "Real Talk San Mateo" focused entirely on the dangers of illegal fireworks, enforcement efforts, and how residents could help reduce violations.
- A special edition of Crime Watch highlighting fireworks laws, penalties, and safety concerns.
- Continual social media messaging throughout June and leading up to the Fourth of July reminding residents that all consumer fireworks are illegal in San Mateo and emphasizing the risks of injuries, fires, and criminal penalties.
- Ongoing outreach encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly and report illegal fireworks activity.
- Public education emphasizing the impact illegal fireworks have on veterans, young children, pets, and vulnerable community members.
- Nightly fireworks suppression overtime details.
- The use of drone technology in conjunction with our Drones as First Responders (DFR) program and Real Time Information Center (RTIC).
These outreach efforts were paired with increased enforcement messaging, making it clear that officers would be actively patrolling throughout the holiday and taking enforcement actions. The department implemented an extensive Fourth of July operations plan designed to quickly identify and respond to illegal fireworks activity.
Additional staffing included:
- Crime Reduction Unit personnel
- Community Service Officers
- Overtime officers
- Drone First Responder (DFR) operators
- Real Time Information Center (RTIC) personnel
- City Park Rangers conducting high-visibility patrols
The Fourth of July combined proactive patrols with advanced drone technology to locate fireworks activity as it occurred, direct officers to violators, and improve response times. Drones launched from the department's RTIC and mobile Rover drone teams deployed from patrol vehicles provided aerial support throughout the evening.
Together, drone resources responded to 23 of the department's 43 fireworks-related calls, accounting for more than half of all fireworks incidents and giving officers enhanced situational awareness while allowing patrol resources to remain available for emergency calls.
The majority of fireworks activity occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., with more than half of all incidents occurring in the city's eastside. As is typical with fireworks enforcement, many callers reported those responsible had left before officers arrived making it difficult for enforcement actions to be taken. Illegal fireworks violations are often brief and highly mobile, making rapid deployment and aerial observation valuable tools for locating activity.
Despite the increased fireworks activity associated with the holiday, officers also handled numerous significant incidents throughout the day, including arrests involving domestic violence, driving under the influence, assault with a deadly weapon, narcotics enforcement, and an attempted catalytic converter theft. The department's enhanced staffing ensured sufficient resources remained available to respond to emergency calls while simultaneously addressing fireworks complaints.
The substantial reduction in fireworks-related calls reflects a combination of community cooperation, sustained public education, proactive enforcement, and the department's continued investment in innovative public safety technology.
The San Mateo Police Department thanks residents who celebrated responsibly and encourages the community to continue reporting illegal fireworks and other public safety concerns throughout the year.
###
