Fireworks are illegal in all but a handful of Bay Area cities, with users risking heavy fines for shooting them off. That didn’t keep many from lighting up the rockets across the Bay Area and causing dozens of fires. The Oakland Fire Department said it received 74 fire-related calls Saturday night and responded to several structure fires that started outdoors from fireworks.
“Fireworks … have become a significant challenge for the city,” said Oakland Fire Department Spokesperson Michael Hunt, though he noted that the department was able to respond quickly and that there were no serious injuries or deaths last night related to fires in Oakland. “We do everything to make sure that we are able to respond effectively when those fireworks start a fire.”
Local residents view illegal fireworks from a hillside in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Illegal fireworks are seen from a hillside in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Local residents view illegal fireworks from a hillside as the sun sets in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Illegal fireworks are seen from a hillside in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Local residents view illegal fireworks from a hillside as the sun sets in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Show Caption
1 of 5
Local residents view illegal fireworks from a hillside in East Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The annual unsanctioned @oakland fireworks display as seen from the East Oakland Hills. @OakTribNews @EastBayTimes #july4th #fireworks pic.twitter.com/UQtoH2Zm8f
— Tyska (@Tyska) July 5, 2026