Long Beach receives 56% less fireworks-related calls than last year

July 8, 2022

2 minute read

A sign is stuck into the sand along the median strip of Ocean Boulevard in the Peninsula neighborhood of Long Beach informing residents that using fireworks is illegal in the city on June 28, 2022. The neighborhood also hosts a large yearly firework show on July 3, called the “Big Bang on the Bay.” (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

As is usual for Fourth of July in Long Beach, the night skies lit up this past weekend for a combination of legal and illegal fireworks throughout the city. Many neighborhoods began to experience intermittent fireworks use beginning in June.

Last year, Long Beach enhanced its fireworks penalties to expand the scope of who can be cited for illegal fireworks and raised possible fines. Signal Hill did the same in March.

This year, the City received 56% less fireworks-related calls between June and July 4 compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the City on July 7.

So far this year, residents have reported 2,300 instances of fireworks usage—463 of which were submitted through the Go Long Beach app. The City Prosecutor’s Office is in the process of reviewing those complaints.

The Long Beach Police Department enforces the City’s total ban on fireworks throughout the year. From December 2021 to July 4 of this year, police seized 16,000 pounds of fireworks, and an additional 107 unused fireworks on Independence Day.

Over the course of the holiday weekend—Friday through Monday—the City’s Communications Center, 9-1-1 and non-emergency lines received 752 fireworks-related calls. On July 4, the dispatch center handled 431 fireworks-related calls and 3,410 total calls, resulting in 1,126 calls for service.

During the peak calling period of 8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., the dispatch center received an average of eight calls per minute.

From Friday, July 1, to Monday, July 4, the Long Beach Fire Department responded to eight fireworks-related incidents, including two structure fires possibly related to fireworks.

Compared to the daily average, the fire department experienced a 7% increase in total calls for service and a 131% increase in outdoor fire-related calls during the holiday weekend.

Long Beach lifeguards made 136 swim rescues and 19 boat rescues from beaches and waterways on July 4 alone, a 600% and 300% respective increase from the number of rescues typically performed on a Monday during summer.