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Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer urged Angelenos not to shoot off illegal fireworks this Fourth of July, noting the region’s historic drought that could cause any fire to spread quickly.
“All fireworks in the city are illegal for personal use and only professional and permitted firework shows are the places where Angelenos should go to celebrate the Fourth of July with a fireworks display,” Feuer said.
He noted that in 2020, a Northridge apartment building, at 8651 N. Wilbur Ave., burned down due to Fourth of July fireworks.
“And of course, because of our drought, any fire that starts is going to spread very quickly,” he said.
The city attorney also noted other dangers of fireworks, including injuries and the effects it can have on people with autism, other sensory issues and post traumatic stress disorder, particularly combat veterans and gun violence survivors. The holiday is also the number-one day of the year for pets running away from home, he said.
“The risk of devastating, quickly spreading fires sparked by fireworks is severe this year, not to mention the ever present threat of serious, life-altering injuries. That’s why we’re starting early this year, cracking down and urging Angelenos to leave fireworks to the pros,” said Feuer. “Besides everything else, fireworks are especially trauma-inducing for people we love, like kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders and combat veterans suffering from PTSD. And they terrify our pets, too.”
To combat the prevalence of illegal fireworks in Los Angeles, Feuer’s office is issuing cease-and-desist letters to online platforms like Facebook and Craigslist, that have advertisements for fireworks sales in Los Angeles.
The city will also hold a fireworks buyback program, sponsored by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez on July 2 at Brand Park in Mission Hills, where people can turn in illegal fireworks without consequences.
“Last year, more than a quarter-ton of fireworks were turned in,” Feuer said.
People found guilty of using, selling, possessing or discharging any fireworks within the city of Los Angeles could face up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $1,000.
A list of professional and permitted fireworks shows is available at lacityattorney.org/fireworks.
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