Long Beach, CA – Last month, the City of Long Beach activated its Celebrate Safely campaign to educate the public about the hazards of fireworks, the consequences of setting off fireworks illegally, and safety tips to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. The Long Beach coastline filled with visitors who enjoyed the professional firework show over the downtown waterfront on July 4.
The City is now issuing the below statistics regarding fireworks enforcement and other public safety response efforts.
Complaints Regarding Illegal Firework Activity
The City takes seriously the enforcement of firework activity and has expanded the scope of liability and penalties associated with this illegal activity with its enhanced fireworks ordinance. Several different fireworks-reporting options were shared via the City’s fireworks information hub to garner submissions from the public to aid in the City’s fireworks enforcement efforts. Options included submitting a complaint on the Go Long Beach app and/or webpage, calling the City’s Communications Center Non-Emergency Line and emailing information to the LBPD patrol division where the fireworks activity was occurring. Additionally, to encourage residents to refrain from using fireworks during the Fourth of July and all summer long, the City is waiving block party permit fees for those who pledge their gathering will be fireworks free; more than 75 block party permits were issued for the Fourth of July weekend and holiday.
In the weeks leading up to and on the Fourth of July, nearly 900 fireworks-related reports have been made across all three reporting platforms. Since Memorial Day Weekend, 444 firework related reports have been submitted via Go Long Beach; the City Prosecutor’s Office is in the process of reviewing the complaints. Under the City’s fireworks ordinance, reports may also be considered for potential civil fines for the host of the property, if criminal prosecution is not possible. The City encourages anyone who has evidence of firework activity to submit as detailed information as possible for review for prosecution or civil fines under the City’s Ordinance.
The City continues to conduct community outreach to encourage the reporting fireworks activity in Long Beach. When a specific location can be identified for fireworks activity, the City Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), issues letters to the associated property owners and tenants notifying recipients that the discharge of illegal fireworks constitutes a public nuisance and that prosecution under California Penal Code section 373a (with up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine) may commence if the public nuisance persists. This year, 29 letters have been issued.
Public Safety Response and Enforcement Statistics
As thousands of people flocked to the City’s public beaches and parks and gathered at home with family and friends, additional public safety personnel from the Fire and Police Departments were on duty and ready to provide emergency response.
Over the holiday weekend, from Saturday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 4, Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) personnel responded to a total of four fireworks-related incidents; thankfully, no properties were impacted and no injuries reported. On July 4, LBFD experienced a 15% increase in total calls for service and a 202% increase in outdoor fire related calls compared to the average number of calls received on other days of the year. Additionally, Long Beach lifeguards responded to emergencies and made 102 swim rescues and 15 boat rescues from beaches and waterways on July 4 alone, a more than 300% increase in water rescues typically performed on a Tuesday during the summertime. LBFD personnel also visited 42 permitted block parties that took place throughout Long Beach to engage with residents and educate them on the danger fireworks pose, and supported the City’s Celebrate Safely campaign with 11 social media posts across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
During this year’s fireworks direct enforcement efforts, which began on May 20 and will continue through July, over 1,025 pounds of fireworks were seized by LBPD, with an additional 686 unused pieces of fireworks seized on July 4 alone. Citywide police enforcement on July 4 resulted in three adult felony arrests, 10 misdemeanor arrests and four fireworks-related citations. Officers were strategically assigned throughout the city to deter criminal activity, conduct enforcement and prevent significant incidents from occurring. In the weeks and days leading up to Independence Day, LBPD officers visited neighborhoods and business areas to promote the Celebrate Safely campaign; Officers and Neighborhood Safety Bike Team officers distributed approximately 1,500 information leaflets. The department shared important Celebrate Safely and fireworks-related messaging via nearly two dozen social media posts. On July 4, LBPD personnel also visited numerous block parties to engage with residents, distribute handouts and remind people of the fireworks reporting options and the importance of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ philosophy.
City Communications Center Statistics
Over the course of the holiday weekend, Friday, June 30, through Tuesday, July 4, there were 771 fireworks-related calls to the City’s Communications Center 9-1-1 and Non-Emergency Lines. During the 24-hour period of July 4 alone, the Dispatch Center handled 398 fireworks-related calls and 2,462 total calls (9-1-1 and the non-emergency line), resulting in 1,090 calls-for-service. This equates to a 56% increase in total calls received by the Dispatch Center compared to an average day. During the peak period of 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. on July 4, the Dispatch Center received an average of seven calls per minute on both 9-1-1 and the non-emergency lines; in preparation for this increase in call volume, Dispatch Center staffing was augmented by 20% between the hours of 7 and 11 p.m.
For comparative Call Center data and other stats from 2022, click here.
Social Media Engagement
In the weeks and days leading up to the Fourth of July, the City engaged in a robust social media campaign to promote Celebrate Safely messaging across multiple City departments. Approximately 80 posts were made across various City social pages, organically reaching more than 228,000 users and resulting in more than 12,000 engagements.
The City will continue to encourage residents to Celebrate Safely throughout the year to prevent the use of illegal fireworks in Long Beach and safeguard the community. The City continues to identify and address firework activity in the city, as addressed in the recent Illegal Explosives and Fireworks Action Plan Status Report.
Media inquiries may be directed to the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at 562.570.NEWS or LongBeachMedia@longbeach.gov.
About the Celebrate Safely Campaign
While the Long Beach Fire Department and Police Department have been educating the community about the fireworks for many years, the City launched the Celebrate Safely campaign in 2019 to provide more information, resources and ongoing safety messaging for the Fourth of July holiday, in addition to several other holidays where fireworks are often used. The campaign has since served as an ongoing platform to educate community members about the importance of participating in safe, family friendly activities. The Celebrate Safely campaign also includes a social media campaign, educational billboard signs, advertisements in print and digital media, digital community toolkits, participation at community meetings, and more. For more information, people may visit longbeach.gov/fireworks.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up