City of Long Beach Experienced a 9% Decrease of Fireworks-Related Reports on July 4
The Californer/10351786

Trending...
~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has reported a decrease in fireworks-related incidents on Independence Day this year. According to the city's press release, there were 587 reports of fireworks-related activity, which is a 9% decrease compared to the previous year. The City's Communications Center also saw a significant decrease of nearly 18% in calls related to fireworks.

This decline can be attributed to the city's efforts in educating the community about the dangers of fireworks through their Celebrate Safely campaign. Launched last month, the campaign aimed to inform residents about reporting options, enforcement measures, and safety tips for a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July celebration. The city also hosted professional fireworks shows at popular locations such as the Queen Mary and along the shoreline.

The City of Long Beach has been actively promoting various reporting options available to community members throughout the year. As per their data, 561 reports were submitted through Go Long Beach, with 212 being submitted on July 4 alone. Additionally, there were 1,627 calls made to the Communications Center regarding fireworks activity, with 348 calls received on July 4 alone. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) also received 52 emails related to fireworks activity, out of which 27 were sent on July 4.

More on The Californer
In preparation for Independence Day, LBPD officers were strategically placed throughout the city to prevent criminal activity and enforce laws against illegal fireworks. As a result of their efforts, approximately 133 pounds of fireworks were seized in June and an additional 61 pieces were confiscated from July 1-3. On July 4 alone, LBPD seized a total of 131 pieces.

The City has also been actively enforcing laws against illegal fireworks throughout the year. From January to July 3, four citations were issued for fireworks-related offenses and an additional four citations were given on July 4. On Independence Day itself, LBPD made nine felony arrests and 21 misdemeanor arrests. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, also aided in identifying and capturing footage of five fireworks-related incidents, which will be reviewed by the City Prosecutor's office.

The City of Long Beach has been committed to decreasing fireworks activity through its enhanced fireworks ordinance, adopted in 2021. This has resulted in a significant decrease in calls for service related to fireworks, from a peak of 8,882 calls in 2020 to 2,069 in 2025 - a decrease of 77%.

More on The Californer
To continue addressing the issue of illegal fireworks, the City has allocated $100,000 towards enforcement, outreach, and education efforts. This budget was approved by the City Council as part of the Adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and will remain unchanged through Fiscal Year 2026.

The City urges residents to report any fireworks activity and encourages alternative ways to celebrate Independence Day without the use of illegal fireworks. For more information on their Celebrate Safely campaign, visit longbeach.gov/fireworks. Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at LongBeachMedia@longbeach.gov.

Filed Under: Government, City
Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on The Californer