The Fourth of July, Independence Day in the United States, is approaching, and the dazzling fireworks display is an essential part of the holiday festivities. However, due to improper handling or illegal fireworks usage, the number of deaths and injuries caused by fireworks continues to rise annually. Law enforcement officials are warning that there will be severe penalties for those who engage in reckless fireworks activities.
First and foremost, consumers in 49 states in the U.S. are allowed to legally purchase certain types of fireworks, with Massachusetts being the only state that completely prohibits the sale of all types of fireworks. However, the regulations regarding fireworks vary in each state.
In California, individuals can only purchase “Safe and Sane” fireworks that are certified as safe by the state government within designated time periods. Purchasing fireworks from unauthorized sources such as online or elsewhere is considered illegal and poses a danger.
The Governor of California and state fire officials are reminding all residents that the state will not tolerate illegal fireworks: selling, transporting, or using any uncertified fireworks is against the law; possession or usage of fireworks in communities where fireworks are prohibited is also illegal. Offenders could face fines of up to $50,000 and up to one year in jail.
At a press conference on Monday, Nathan Hochman, a prosecutor in Los Angeles County, stated, “If you illegally set off explosives in our community, causing harm to residents, damaging homes, and threatening our community, we will prosecute you to the full extent of the law. This Fourth of July, do not gamble with your freedom.”
He cited an example where a man in Inglewood was accused of igniting a large fireworks device in a residential area the night before Christmas last year, causing damage to multiple cars. One explosive pierced a window of an apartment building, injuring a woman’s face. The man faces multiple felony charges, with a potential sentence of up to 35 years in state prison if convicted.
With technological advancements, Hochman warned that it will be easier for law enforcement to apprehend offenders who set off illegal fireworks in the future. He stated, “We will have the capability to identify individuals setting off illegal fireworks from the air on the day of the incident. We will locate them and subject them to criminal penalties.”
Fire officials mentioned that illegal fireworks have a strong explosive force, with shorter ignition times, making it difficult for people to dodge the explosions, resulting in injuries.
Brian Fennessy, the Chief of the Orange County Fire Department, said, “As a firefighter, every Fourth of July, I witness the same horrifying scenes: a mother crying that her young boy lost his hand; family members screaming because a child’s face was severely burned and unrecognizable.”
During an event last Tuesday, professionals demonstrated the destructive power of illegal fireworks: when a lit firework stick touched clothing, flames instantly erupted, burning the entire set of clothes to ash in less than a minute. Professionals also attached illegal fireworks to watermelons, which were shattered into pieces upon ignition.
According to statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 10,000 people were rushed to emergency rooms across America in 2024 due to fireworks-related injuries. Some suffered facial injuries from explosions, eye injuries from illegal bottle rockets, and hand or skin burns from highly explosive fireworks.
In 2022, a teenage girl in Los Angeles ignited what she thought was a smoke bomb found on the street before losing both hands, temporary blindness, facial bleeding, ruptured eardrums, and first-, second-, and third-degree burns. She eventually lost all fingers on her left hand.
Since 2024, fireworks have caused over $35 million in property damages in California and sparked 1,230 fires.
From the beginning of 2025 until now, over 600,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized in California.
Common types of illegal fireworks include skyrockets, bottle rockets, heavy-duty M80 and M100 fireworks, firecrackers, Roman candles, aerial shells, and other explosives that ascend into the air or remain uncontrolled on the ground.
Many illegal fireworks come from China, Mexico, without California Fire Department’s registered trademarks. Additionally, unlawful individuals in the U.S. manufacture fireworks using explosive powder or aluminum powder, which poses greater dangers.
David Auner, head of the Arson Explosives Detail at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, advised, “If you come across these explosives, do not touch them but call us instead, as the substances and quantities mixed in these explosives are difficult to estimate.”
In California, some cities prohibit the use of any form of fireworks. For example, the Los Angeles County regulations state that all unincorporated areas in the county prohibit the use of any form of fireworks. Storing, manufacturing, selling, or setting off any form of fireworks without a permit is illegal. Offenders commit a misdemeanor and may face fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
Law enforcement officials remind the public to check their city’s regulations before purchasing “Safe and Sane” fireworks, including whether fireworks are allowed and the designated times for lighting them. It is also illegal to bring legally purchased fireworks from authorized sellers into cities where fireworks are prohibited, and violators will face significant fines.
Officials urge the public for safety reasons not to ignite fireworks on their own but to opt for watching fireworks displays conducted by professionals.