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All Fireworks Are Illegal In The City Of Long Beach

Celebrate Safely 4th of July. Do not light fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in Long Beach!

The City of Long Beach encourages residents and visitors to celebrate safely Fourth of July and all summer long to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community. All personal fireworks, including sparklers and those labeled “safe and sane,” are prohibited within Long Beach city limits.

The below public safety response data and community engagement efforts were conducted by the City of Long Beach leading up to and during the Fourth of July holiday to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community. 

Reports of Fireworks Activity 
On Independence Day, the City received 587 reports of fireworks activity via various platforms. Below is a breakdown of the fireworks reporting options that are available year-round to community members and the number of reports submitted so far this year and on July 4: 

  • 561 fireworks related reports submitted via Go Long Beach, 212 of which submitted on July 4 alone. 
  • 1,627 fireworks related calls to the City’s Communications Center, 348 of which submitted on July 4 alone. 
  • 52 fireworks-related emails sent to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) patrol divisions, 27 of which were submitted on July 4 alone. 

Community Engagement 
Each year, the City conducts community outreach through the Celebrate Safely campaign to educate residents and encourage the reporting fireworks activity in Long Beach.  

  • More than 100 organic social media posts were shared across City and City Department social media pages. Cumulative the posts received almost 1 million impressions, more than 30,000 engagements (shares/likes/comments) and hundreds of clicks to the City’s website.  
  • A Public Service Announcement video was produced with the Long Beach Fire Department, which received 76,000 views.  
  • The City launched a paid social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram, which reached more than 607,000 unique users and garnered more than 1 million impressions. The paid social media campaign included posts in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. The campaign also drove more than 21,000 clicks to the City’s fireworks webpage. 
  • 250 public transit signage deployed through Long Beach Transit 
  • 71 Block Party Permit fees waived on July 3 and 4 to encourage fireworks-free celebrations 

Fire Department Response Efforts 
As thousands of people flocked to the City’s public beaches and parks and gathered at home with family and friends, public safety personnel from the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) and Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) were on duty and prepared to respond to increased emergency calls for service. Below are key data points regarding LBFD calls for service and fireworks related incidents on July 4:  

  • 1 fireworks-related incidents responded to by LBFD. 
  • 1 injury resulting from fireworks-related activity. 
  • 153 swim rescues, 2 boat rescues and 3 boat assists from beaches and waterways performed by LBFD personnel. This is a more than 419% increase in swim rescues typically performed on a Saturday in the summertime.  

Public Safety & Enforcement 
Leading up to and on the Fourth of July, LBPD officers were strategically assigned throughout the city to deter criminal activity, conduct enforcement, enforce illegal fireworks, and prevent significant incidents from occurring, resulting in the below enforcement efforts:  

  • Approximately 133 pounds of fireworks seized in the month of June. 
  • Approximately 61 fireworks pieces seized as a result of enforcement efforts conducted July 1 through July 3 and 131 pieces seized on July 4.  
  • 4 fireworks-related citations issued from January 1 to July 3.  
  • 4 fireworks-related citations issued on July 4.  
  • In total, 9 felony arrests and 21 misdemeanor arrests made on July 4. 
  • Footage of 5 fireworks-related incidents were captured by LBPD’s unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, and will be submitted to the City Prosecutor’s office for review.No arrests were made from drone observations. 

City Communications Center Statistics 
During the Fourth of July, the City’s Communications Center experiences a significant increase in calls pertaining to various other holiday-related quality of life incidents beyond fireworks, including disturbances from parties, loud music, fights and parking. The Communications Center has 22 incoming 9-1-1 circuits, and, during the peak periods on the Fourth of July, up to 12 of those circuits were used simultaneously, resulting in zero busy signals for callers. On July 4, Call Center staff:  

  • Received 2,528 total calls (9-1-1 and the non-emergency line) from community members, a 54% increase in calls compared to an average day. 
  • Facilitated 1,074 total calls for service.  
  • Received 348 reports of fireworks-related incidents (9-1-1 and non-emergency lines), with many incidents involving multiple callers.  
  • Received an average of nearly 5 calls per minute on both 9-1-1 and the non-emergency lines during the peak period of 8:30 to 9:15 p.m., with a spike of 85 calls managed in just 15 minutes during that time period. 
  • Dispatch Center staffing augmented by nearly 17% between the hours of 7 and 11 p.m. to accommodate the anticipated surge in call volume. 

Fire Prevention

 Phone: (562) 570-2563

Training Center

 Phone: (562) 570-3350

Records Requests / Subpoenas

To Submit Request for Records please visit:
www.longbeach.gov/pra
 
Subpoenas only accepted hand served at:
Office of the City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
 
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Community Services

Phone: (562) 570-2525

CERT Hotline

Phone: (562) 570-2525

Marine Safety Division

Phone: (562) 570-1286

Infection Control Officer

Phone: (562) 570-2547

Pulse Point
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