Regional Partners Remind Communities of Illegal Fireworks

Reno/Sparks/Washoe County, Nevada (June 30, 2022) — The Reno Fire Department, Sparks Fire Department, and Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue would like to remind everyone that fireworks in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County are not only dangerous but illegal.

No fireworks are legal except public fireworks displays permitted through the Fire Department having jurisdiction. Even though it may be legal to purchase fireworks in some locations outside of Washoe County, it is illegal to possess or use fireworks and/or pyrotechnics within the cities of Sparks and Reno and in the unincorporated areas of Washoe County.

Illegal possession or use of fireworks can result in fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail for each offense, and the laws also provide for seizure and forfeiture of all such materials from individuals by law enforcement. Any citation issued for the use of fireworks will include the cost recovery for suppression activities and enforcement.

“If you happen to have fireworks and would like to get rid of them in a safe manner, you may drop them off at any fire station, no questions asked,” Sparks Division Chief Shawn McEvers said.

Capable of reaching temperatures of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, fireworks are hot enough to cause third-degree burns and severe injury, and damage sight and hearing. Children are especially vulnerable to these dangers. Additionally, loud noises caused by pyrotechnics can also scare pets.

Fireworks are also capable of igniting wildland fires in dry brush and trees.

“This summer, our region is very hot, and the brush and grass very dry,” Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Charles Moore said. “The use of fireworks increases the chances of a wildland fire in the area, putting residents and their homes as well as firefighters at risk.”

Fireworks Facts:

• The National Fire Protection Association reports fireworks start an estimated 19,500 fires annually.  
• U.S. hospital emergency rooms treat an estimated 9,100 people for fireworks-related injuries in the month of July; half of those injuries in the previous year were to the extremities, and 34% were to the eye or other parts of the head. 
• Children younger than 15 accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated injuries.

“While it may be legal to purchase fireworks in some locations outside of Washoe County and on Tribal Lands, it is illegal to possess or use fireworks within the cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County,” Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran said. “Enjoy your time with friends and family and find alternative activities, such as professional fireworks displays, that do not spark fires.”

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