Clovis police saw record number of calls reporting illegal fireworks on July 4
The Clovis Police Department received a record number of calls to report illegal fireworks during this year’s Fourth of July holiday weekend.
According to data from the police department, dispatchers answered 825 calls on July 4, a 60% increase from the previous Friday’s 517 calls. Of those calls, 580 were requests for police officers to respond, 46% higher than the previous Friday.
The majority of the calls, 543 out of 825, came between 6 p.m. to midnight, according to the police department, and 190 of the calls were pertained to illegal fireworks.
In California, fireworks bearing the California Fire Marshal’s “Safe and Sane” label have been tested and approved for consumer use in accordance with state safety regulations. Unlabeled fireworks could cause serious injuries and fires, and they are illegal.
There were no arrests or citations issued on this and last year’s Fourth of July holiday for illegal fireworks, said spokesperson Ty Wood.
“Illegal fireworks is a tough crime to arrest for, because we must catch the suspect(s) with the fireworks in their possession, or witness the violation,” Wood said.
In addition to the high volume of calls for service over the holiday weekend, officers and department staff were also busy working the Freedom Fest, a celebration event held on the Fourth of July at Lamonica Stadium, Wood said.
Priority was given to life or death emergencies, Wood said. Ahead of the holiday, the city posted on all social media channels to remind residents to call the non-emergency number (559) 324-2800 or use the city’s mobile app to report illegal fireworks, unless a fire or injury occurs.
“When officers respond to a call for service regarding illegal fireworks, they check the area and contact anyone in the area for information,” Wood said. “But much of the time, by the time our officers respond, the illegal fireworks are done and nowhere to be found, unfortunately.”
This story was originally published August 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
