The Sacramento Fire Department’s new community-reporting mobile app and its phone hotline both proved to be useful for reporting illegal fireworks this July 4 season.
Through the new app, the department received more than 1,300 reports of illegal fireworks, said Sac Fire Capt. Justin Sylvia. The 916-808-3473 (FIRE) hotline received nearly 2,000 phone calls on July 4 from residents reporting illegal fireworks.
The total number of citations issued for illegal fireworks is still being reviewed and processed, Sylvia said.
Here is a breakdown of other July 4 calls for service/response from the Sacramento Fire Department:
- The department received 395 emergency calls on July 4.
- There were 22 calls for reported structure fires.
- SFD received103 calls for other types of fires, including grass, vehicles, trees, dumpsters and debris fires.
- One fire caused by fireworks damaged two homes.
“This was one of the busiest Fourth of July holidays we have seen, with three of the structure fires requiring a second alarm for control and extinguishment,” said Sylvia, who added that these fires occurred across the entire city.
The period to legally discharge fireworks in Sacramento has ended. Residents can continue to report illegal firework activity by downloading the “Sacramento Fire” app or by calling 916-808-3473 (FIRE).
The new Sac Fire app allows users to report issues or concerns directly from their mobile devices. In addition, it includes useful information about community resources, fire prevention, community events and safety tips. The app also offers a mapping feature that enables users to see the locations of fire stations, hospitals and other locations of importance.