You could be fined $500 for illegal fireworks in Riverside County

Fireworks are illegal in Riverside County, with the exception of a few cities and for inspected and approved firework displays. Firefighters have released some rules and regulations to make sure the community is aware of what is, and what isn’t allowed this year.

List of inspected and approved fireworks shows in Riverside County

Fireworks are legal in the cities of Desert Hot Springs, Blythe, Coachella and Indio. The city of Cathedral City allows Safe and Sane Fireworks to be sold and discharged between June 28 and July 4. Cathedral City firefighters advise residents to keep a very close eye on family and pets during the holiday.

Major displays in Palm Springs and Palm Desert

There is a zero tolerance policy for those who sell, purchase, transport, store or use fireworks in Riverside County, outside of the aforementioned cities. Anyone caught can be fined up to $500 and have their fireworks confiscated, according to a release from Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department.

“Fireworks can cause life-altering injuries. Unprecedented drought conditions add extreme risk of one spark from a firework starting a wildland fire,” said Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins. “please, leave fireworks to the professionals.”

Fireworks can also be traumatic for pets. You should keep your pets indoors or away from loud displays of fireworks. Officials with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services said hundreds of pets escape their yards and dozens of them are injured each year around the Fourth of July.

Dangers of Fireworks