Officers issue citations after hundreds of fireworks-related calls

DENVER ( KDVR ) — With law enforcement receiving hundreds of fireworks-related calls in Colorado around the Fourth of July, several people received citations and dozens received warnings.

Fireworks that leave the ground or explode are illegal in Colorado . It’s also illegal to buy fireworks in Wyoming and bring them to Colorado , but Coloradans do it anyway .

As a result, law enforcement agencies across the metro area received hundreds of calls reporting illegal fireworks around the Fourth of July.

A spokesperson for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office told FOX31 in an email that while the agency is still gathering data, the preliminary number of fireworks-related calls they responded to was 134 for July 3 and 4. That number may include multiple calls for a single incident.

“During that same period, deputies gave 29 warnings, and six citations were issued. Five of those six citations were given to adults and were issued on the 4th. One was issued on the 3rd, to a juvenile,” the DCSO spokesperson wrote.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office told FOX31 that its deputies responded to 391 fireworks-related calls, and four summonses were issued for illegal fireworks.

Fires break out across the metro

Investigations are still underway, but several fire agencies said most fires were likely caused by fireworks .

Denver firefighters alone responded to 119 trash and grass fires, five house fires and two multi-family home fires from Thursday to Friday. Aurora firefighters responded to 250 incidents from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

Even after the holiday, firefighters responded to fireworks-related fires. For example, South Metro Fire Rescue said illegal fireworks sparked a three-acre fire in a park in Centennial Sunday morning.

What are the legal penalties for using illegal fireworks?

In many areas, the use of illegal fireworks can result in fines of up to $750 and possible jail time. That is the penalty that state law outlines .

For example, in unincorporated Jefferson County, it is a class 3 misdemeanor punishable with fines from $50 to $750, and/or up to six months imprisonment, according to the website.

However, some municipalities can have different ordinances and enforce more severe penalties. For example, fines can reach up to $1,000 in Greeley.

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