City Officials: Illegal Fireworks Complaints Muted This Year

[Updated]  City spokesperson Lisa Derderian said Friday that the number of complaints about illegal fireworks is running about average this year. An expected ramp-up over the weekend did not materialize quite as expected.

Fireworks of all kinds are illegal in Pasadena, and the fines if you are caught with them can be hefty.

Pasadena police and firefighters have teamed up for special fireworks enforcement field patrols during the Fourth of July holiday, and officers will seize fireworks in an effort to protect the public.

Derderian said that there have been administrative citations issued for illegal fireworks in recent days, but no arrests. 

In contrast to some recent years, no significant caches of fireworks have been seized in the city so far.  There have been no known fires or injuries related to fireworks so far this year.

In 2022 a fire blamed on fireworks fire tore through a Pasadena house causing major damage to the home, two neighboring apartment units, six vehicles and a trailer.

In 2020, police calls for service regarding fireworks shot up by 500%.

Last week, District 1 Councilmember Tyron Hampton reminded Pasadenans to avoid going to the Arroyo Seco region and urged them to stay home with friends and family to enjoy the Fourth of July.

“The last thing we want is to get a fine [for illegal parking] by staying around the Rose Bowl. Let’s all celebrate the Fourth of July in a safe environment,” he said.

Vice Mayor Felicia Williams, who represents District 2, reported that her office has not received any fireworks complaints as of Friday.

“Over the past couple of years, the amount of complaints has been fairly low and steady at that rate,” she said.

District 4 Councilmember Gene Masuda also reported he is not getting too many complaints regarding fireworks. 

“I believe the reason is our City’s Information Officer, police and fire departments are doing an excellent job informing the residents about illegal fireworks and the city maintains a zero tolerance enforcement policy,” he said.

District 7 Councilmember Jason Lyon’s Field Rep Pam Thyret said they haven’t received any calls about fireworks.

According to Derderian, statistics show that fireworks are among the most dangerous of all consumer products.

The City maintains a zero tolerance enforcement policy for fireworks, and Pasadena’s municipal code holds property owners and tenants responsible for permitting the possession, sale, usage or discharge of fireworks on their property.