The County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone joined Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva, Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County First District Supervisor Hilda Solis, UCLA Health Regional Burn Center Dr. Edwin Garcia and other public safety officials for the joint LACoFD-LAFD annual Fireworks Safety Press Conference.
The joint County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) annual Fireworks Safety Press Conference was held on Wednesday 25 June 2025 ahead of the 4th July celebrations.
Held at the LAFD Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, speakers underscored the importance of fireworks safety, shared how dangerous illegal and Safe and Sane fireworks are and encouraged community members to attend professional fireworks and drone displays across the county.
Chief Marrone shared: “Our number one priority is everyone’s safety.
“Fireworks are dangerous and while we enjoy celebrating the Fourth of July with family and friends, we also want to do it safely – and not have a celebration turn into a hospital visit or something even worse.”
During the two weeks before and after the 2024 Fourth of July holiday, LACoFD firefighters responded to 142 fires ignited by fireworks.
Of these fires, 121 were caused by illegal fireworks, 19 from undetermined fireworks and two were caused by Safe and Sane fireworks.
In the same time frame, there were 35 fireworks-related injuries, an increase of 15 from 23. Some patients lost vision due to eye injuries and others experiencing more severe injuries. Additionally, fireworks caused $906,000 in property loss and damage.
The LACoFD has reminded the unincorporated communities it serves that it is illegal to store, manufacture, sell, use or handle all forms of fireworks, including Safe and Sane fireworks.
The LACoFD and LAFD held its annual Fireworks Safety Press Conference on Wednesday 25 June 2025 ahead of the 4th July celebrations.
