Livermore Police Report Decrease In Fireworks-Related Calls

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore police seized 30 pounds of illegal fireworks, but saw a 13-percent decrease in fireworks-related calls, Livermore Police Department spokesperson Azenith Smith told Patch.

From June 30 to July 4, the LPD received 110 calls for service related to fireworks, down from 127 calls in the same time period in 2022. The department also received 83 calls for fireworks-related complaints, a slight decrease from last year.

The department issued one citation.

They did not receive reports of any fires or injuries related to fireworks.

For the first year, the Livermore Police Department enforced a new “social hosting provision” ordinance passed in May that holds a property owner or anyone in charge of hosting a gathering where fireworks are discharged liable for their guests’ actions.

The city’s previous ordinance only allowed for penalties when fireworks were discharged in the presence of an officer. Under the new amendment, police officers can use their own observations, witness statements and other information to issue citations.

According to a staff report, the Livermore Police Department received 298 fireworks-related complaints in 2022, and 87 over the July 4th weekend alone. The department was unable to write citations due to the wording of a city ordinance.

Although all possession, sales, and discharging of fireworks are illegal in Livermore, police and firefighters were previously only allowed to seize fireworks “offered or exposed for sale, stored, possessed, transported, or otherwise in violation of this chapter.”

While Livermore may have reported a small decrease, Alameda County recorded an 11.4 percent increase in emergency calls, and extinguished at least 17 fires suspected to be caused by illegal fireworks, according to Alameda County Fire Department Cheryl Hurd. Fires broke out in Union City and in an unincorporated area near Lake Chabot. No injuries were caused and no homes were burned, Hurd said.

In Contra Costa County, officials confirmed nearly 200 emergency calls, including 82 fires and 50 linked to fireworks.