City officials and first responders are imploring residents to leave fireworks to the professionals.
With the exception of permitted displays, fireworks are illegal in San Jose to use, possess, store or sell. Erica Ray, spokesperson for San Jose Fire Department, said even fireworks labeled “safe and sane” — which don’t leave the ground or explode — are illegal in the city.
San Jose Councilmember David Cohen said this year there will be an increased number of patrol officers driving around to crack down on illegal sparklers.
“When I speak to the captains in my district, they ensure me they will be visible,” he said.
Cohen said it’s important for people to report illegal fireworks. His office created yard signs to remind people fireworks are illegal and how to report their use.
After complaints about illegal fireworks tripled during the pandemic, the San Jose police and fire departments dramatically increased citation fines last year. For first-time violations it’s $1,000. A second violation, within 18 months, is $2,000 and a third violation is $3,000.
A social host ordinance was also passed by the City Council last May, which fines tenants and property owners for fireworks launched on their property. Ray said homeowners will be held responsible for emergency response fees if police or firefighters are dispatched due to illegal fireworks.
City Councilmember Sergio Jimenez said the sale of fireworks can cost up to $50,000 plus jail time, depending on the quantity. Over the last two Independence Day holidays, there were approximately 86 fireworks-related fires in San Jose, Jimenez said, adding these fires caused property damage, environmental damage and were 100% preventable.
Ray said even seemingly harmless sparklers cause severe injuries every year, especially in young children.
Last year, the SJFD received 56 calls related to fireworks, with 27 fires resulting from them. More than 1,700 reports were filed online and 651 calls were made to 311 that resulted in 13 field citations, 10 online citations and 479 warning notices. Some of the hotspots are clustered in the downtown, East San Jose and Alviso.
Wildfires are another concern relating to illegal fireworks, especially with dry vegetation.
“We are facing drought conditions in San Jose and throughout the state,” Ray said. “All it takes is one spark from an illegal firework to start what could be a devastating fire to a residential neighborhood or park.”
San Jose fire crews may not be able to respond to every firework-related call unless fires or injuries are involved.
Residents observing illegal fireworks are asked to report the activity online by clicking here or through the city’s 311 app. Calls can also be made to 311 or 408-535-5600. In the case of an active fire or emergency, residents should call 911.
“If sufficient information is provided in that online report, the city’s code enforcement division will follow up to issue a citation,” Ray said. “If not enough evidence is provided, they may issue a warning.” The city’s reporting system for illegal fireworks sparked controversy when officials erroneously issued citations — two years in a row — to people who didn’t possess or set off the sparklers. City officials tried to improve the situation by requiring residents to provide evidence when filing complaints, such as photos or videos.
Cohen said he hopes the number of people using illegal fireworks will decrease over time.
“I’m very frustrated by what I hear in my neighborhood and my dog hates it,” Cohen said to San José Spotlight. “It’s a big disruption.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected] Where to watch fireworks in Santa Clara CountyJuly 4 fireworks will be lighting up the skies after sunset throughout Santa Clara County on Monday night at the following venues: Cupertino: Cupertino Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Ave. Gilroy: Gilroy High School, 710 W. 10th Milpitas: Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. Morgan Hill: Outdoor Sports Complex, 16500 Condit Road Mountain View: Shoreline Amphitheater, One Amphitheatre Pkwy San Jose: Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way San Jose: Almaden Lake Park, 6099 Winfield Blvd. San Jose Giants: 588 Alma Ave., fireworks display after the ball game Santa Clara: Great America, 4701 Great America Pkwy
July 4 fireworks will be lighting up the skies after sunset throughout Santa Clara County on Monday night at the following venues:
Cupertino: Cupertino Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Ave. Gilroy: Gilroy High School, 710 W. 10th Milpitas: Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. Morgan Hill: Outdoor Sports Complex, 16500 Condit Road Mountain View: Shoreline Amphitheater, One Amphitheatre Pkwy San Jose: Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way San Jose: Almaden Lake Park, 6099 Winfield Blvd. San Jose Giants: 588 Alma Ave., fireworks display after the ball game Santa Clara: Great America, 4701 Great America Pkwy
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This is bullshit! San Jose won’t respond to anyone who reports illegal fireworks. My neighbors have already started shooting off fireworks.
Absolutely correct. These illegal fireworks have been going on for decades now and they are as bad as ever this year.
I live near the Cahalan park war zone. There are constant fireworks going off with many explosions. Our windows are rattled and the neighbors car alarms keep going off. I have not seen any police and we have a fire station just down the street so they know.
It’s a war zone in the mayor’s neighborhood right now at 9:28 pm on July 4.
yeah they wont do nothing, there so many going on now
Agreed. Bullshit. Every year Ramblewood Park is a hub for industrial grade fireworks, gets bigger every year. It doesn’t stop until 2 in the morning or later. Never once has a patrol car come by, never once have the police responded to a complaint.
Alviso had 6 different full displays of fireworks going on. It was ridiculous how many spectators there were. I had to work in Mountain View last night, with all of the smoke from the lighting of the fireworks and all the people parked and watching, it surprises me that police couldn’t sneak in there. They could park an unmarked car on the outside of the neighborhood then stroll around to see all the activity with his citation book. He could’ve easily wrote a books’ worth last night.
We didn’t need a new law, what we need is a new council that will fully fund a properly-sized, well-paid police force. SJ’s per capita police force is less than 1/2 of what all cities of 500k+ population has.
No point in passing laws that can’t be enforced and that has once again proven itself out this 4th of July.
Last year I filed report after report after report and nothing happened. In my area the fireworks were worse this year. I recall being at a Council meeting years ago when the police said they are threatened when they try to shut fireworks down. These people need to be arrested. Homes can go up in flames because of fireworks. Old mobilehomes burn in five minutes.
Alviso every year has 5 or 6 full displays going. Spectators through out the streets all the way to the bridge before 237. It’s pretty easy to see who setting them off. Follow the smoke. Couple of unmarked cars and a citation book.
I”m a block away from City Hall and heard fireworks since Friday (July 1st). People just don’t get it! It’s been going on for years and authorities know it!!
Oh yeah as we heard last night ?? Right ? And patrols?? Enforce wit what ? San Jose doesn’t have enough officers to take care of the high crime or traffic! Counsel city giv and weak mayoy tie their hands anyway ..
It’s really frustrating to see this repeated take that the city is somehow cracking down on fireworks. Maybe they intended to do this, but the actual results are quite different. My local nextdoor is full this morning of neighbors complaining that they called to report fireworks and either they couldn’t get through, or they did get through but nothing was done. And certainly the number of booms that shook my house suggest no enforcement as well.
Some days it feel likes you’re a real sucker if you’re a law-abiding citizen, you know? Multiple times in June, I saw women stuffing liquor bottles into large tote bags when I was at the grocery store. Middle of a weekday, no shame at all. Especially since the shooting death of Manny Huizar at Safeway, thieves know full well that the store won’t take any steps to stop them, so they just take what they want and barely bother to hide it. Meanwhile, the city has all but stopped enforcing its own parking rules, so cars sit on neighborhood streets for weeks. And whoever wants to set off fireworks just because they think it’s fun can do so without any fear. And go for a drive any random day, and you’ll see maniacs peeling through streets regardless of speed limits and pedestrians. And on and on.
Nice that so many folks can just do whatever their id tells them to do with no worries about consequences. Remind me why I waste my time and energy following the rules and trying to be a productive citizen?
Sally, Take a very close look at the City of San Jose’s budget. We are spending almost as much on the ineffective, wasteful Housing Department ($435M) as we are on the Police Department($480M).
The Housing Department is growing its payroll (and future pension liabilities) by leaps and bounds and the Police Department is grossly underfunded by at least 1/2.
We have less than half of the per capita police force of other major cities. Why?
At the same time, we are using taxpayer $ to enrich well-connected non-profit directors with the goal of providing goods/services to attract more unhoused drug addicts/ex cons (thanks to emptying the prisons) to San Jose. All while we do not have a valid police force.
Don’t like the end results? Look in the mirror SJ, you voted for this.
I went today to retrieve evidence of the fireworks at the intersection near my house. “Golden Peacock” 16 shots, with warning: “SHOOTS FLAMING BALLS.” I have photos from the detritus (more than a foot-long cannister) from two years ago, July 4, 2020, at the same intersection. Kept it for awhile and then threw away.
Last night, I called 311 and was told by the automated message I needed to call 911 to report a crime in progress. When I did, I was told that while residential use of fireworks is a crime, it is not an emergency and I was reconnected to the 311 automated message. Rinse and repeat. The 911 operators were rudely dismissive of my concerns, stating “It’s the Fourth of July.”
The criminality at my intersection went on for over an hour, and must have been audible to the dispatchers during my call. No police ever showed up, not even belatedly. Had the police intended to “crack down” on illegal fireworks, they had an easy opportunity. Plainly, there is and has been no such intent. The fact that our public officials lie to us about getting tough on illegal fireworks merely adds insult to the inevitable injuries from these dangerous projectiles.
I see you had the exact same experience I had filing a noise complaint against a chronic house a few doors down from me. When I complained to the City, they act like nothing is wrong with this system…
Every year before the 4th, its the same media puffery and NOTHING changes…
Vote for change! That’s the only way.
San Jose is what it is, you get used to the increasing lawlessness and adapt. I have lived in San Jose 50+ years, what change? The fact is there are not enough Police to preform the day to day requests so they only address high priority A items for the most part and yes you can thank the current and previous local administrations for that.
The fact is that fireworks are getting worse and worse here every year and unfortunately it will take one huge disaster to enact mediocre change that wont amount to another toothless law that isn’t enforceable.
Now the forth is over we only have Homeless fires and the occasional meth lab in a derelict house blowing up to keep us amused until the random automatic gunfire of New Years eve…
I don’t have a problem with fireworks. A few people in my neighborhood were setting them off, but it doesn’t bother me. I think more problems are caused by homeless derelicts. Add to that sideshows, which like fireworks are also illegal. But now the legalization of cruising, another activity I disdain, will give more encouragement to the road hogs. San Jose is a ghetto right now and it will get worse.
The Media puffery on cracking down on illegal fireworks is laughable. Every year its the same thing and the fireworks get more and more intense.
I do know they keep the helicopter distanced now because I witnessed Idiots 5 or 6 years ago downtown a few blocks away actually aiming for the helicopter when lighting their mortars off. Note: I didn’t condone this behavior and reported it to no avail.
If they were serious about the fire hazard in San Jose then perhaps they should start focusing a crack down on the homeless caused daily fires…
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