CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION. THE SHOOTING REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. NEW TONIGHT, SACRAMENTO COUNTY LEADERS ARE SEEING SO MANY LEGAL FIREWORKS THAT THEY’RE NOW CONSIDERING STRENGTHENING THE PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUGHT WITH THEM. KCRA 3’S PEYTON HEADLEE IS LIVE TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL. PEYTON, WE KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM FIRSTHAND. YOU ARE REPORTING LIVE FROM ONE OF THE WORST AREAS FOR THIS LAST JULY. YEAH. AND IT WAS QUITE THE SCENE. WE BROUGHT YOU LIVE REPORTS SHOWING THE BIG ISSUES THEY RAN INTO, LIKE BLOCKED STREETS WITH BIG CROWDS AND SO MANY FIREWORKS GOING OFF. THERE AREN’T ENOUGH CREWS TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THEM. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD TARGET THOSE AND OTHER WEAK SPOTS. THIS WAS THE SCENE ON THE 4TH OF JULY AT GREENBACK AND MAIN IN ORANGEVILLE. CROWDS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIGHTING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, SETTING TREES ON FIRE. HITTING POWER LINES. BLOCKING ROADS, EVEN SHOOTING FIREWORKS TOWARD FIRST RESPONDERS. THIS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUSLY INSANE. THIS WAS NOT A UNIQUE OR NEW SCENE FOR THE COUNTY, AND OFFICIALS ARE TIRED OF IT. SACRAMENTO HAS BEEN KNOWN TO ALWAYS HAVE A VERY LOUD, FIREWORK HEAVY PRESENCE, AND WE’RE HOPING TO CHANGE THAT, CHANGE IT FOR THE BETTER. NEXT WEEK, THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE AMOUNT OF INSTANCES WE’VE HAD WITH FIREWORKS ESSENTIALLY GETTING OUT OF HAND HAS JUST INCREASED. FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE. SERGEANT WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS IT WOULD MEAN USING MORE DRONES, FOCUSING ON HOTSPOTS, SPECIFICALLY IN ANTELOPE ROAD ORANGEVALE AND BRINGING IN MORE STAFF TO RESPOND TO ALL THE CALLS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALLEVIATE IT ALTOGETHER. IF NOT, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE MANPOWER TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND THERE’S GOING TO BE STIFF, STIFF PENALTIES. THOSE PENALTIES WOULD INCREASE THE FINES TO $1,000 PER FIREWORK INSTEAD OF $1,000 PER VIOLATION, AND THAT GOES UP TO $10,000 PER FIREWORK NEAR A PARK, SCHOOL OR THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY. IT’S JUST COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PRIMARY GOAL? SAFETY AND KEEPING COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS FROM TURNING INTO SCENES LIKE THIS. AND ENFORCEMENT WON’T JUST BE ON THOSE WHO ARE SETTING THEM OFF. IT WILL ALSO FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL HEAR THIS PROPOSAL AT THE MEETI
Sacramento County considers tougher penalties for illegal fireworks
Sacramento County officials are proposing increased fines for illegal fireworks to address safety concerns during Fourth of July celebrations.
Updated: 11:06 PM PDT Mar 20, 2026
Sacramento County leaders are considering a proposal to strengthen penalties for illegal fireworks, aiming to address the chaos and safety issues seen during celebrations like the Fourth of July. Last July, crowds gathered at Greenback and Main in Orangevale, lighting illegal fireworks that set trees on fire, hit powerlines, blocked roads, and even targeted first responders.That location is listed as one of the hotspots that county leaders are hoping to target this fourth of July. “Sacramento has been known to always have a very loud, a very firework heavy presence and we’re hoping to change that, change it for the better,” Sgt. Edward Igoe with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. “The last few years, the amount of instances we’ve had with fireworks essentially getting out of hand has just increased.”Next week, county staff will present a proposed amendment to County Code, as directed by the Board of Supervisors in November 2025, to strengthen penalties for illegal fireworks and the unauthorized use of safe and sane fireworks. Representatives from the county, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire, and Sacramento County code enforcement will present the 2026 Illegal Fireworks Strategic Plan. From an enforcement perspective, Igoe said the plan would involve using more drones, focusing on hotspots like Antelope and Orangevale, and bringing in additional staff to respond to calls. “Hopefully, we can alleviate it all together. If not, we’re going to have the manpower to be able to address these issues and there’s going to be stiff, stiff penalties,” Igoe said.The proposed penalties would increase fines to $1,000 per firework instead of $1,000 per violation, with fines reaching up to $10,000 per firework near a park, school, or the American River Parkway.“These actions are part of a broader effort to reduce illegal fireworks use, enhance community safety and prevent fires to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all residents,” Kim Nava, a county spokesperson, said.The board will hear the proposal at their meeting on Tuesday, March 24.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —
Sacramento County leaders are considering a proposal to strengthen penalties for illegal fireworks, aiming to address the chaos and safety issues seen during celebrations like the Fourth of July.
Last July, crowds gathered at Greenback and Main in Orangevale, lighting illegal fireworks that set trees on fire, hit powerlines, blocked roads, and even targeted first responders.
That location is listed as one of the hotspots that county leaders are hoping to target this fourth of July.
“Sacramento has been known to always have a very loud, a very firework heavy presence and we’re hoping to change that, change it for the better,” Sgt. Edward Igoe with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. “The last few years, the amount of instances we’ve had with fireworks essentially getting out of hand has just increased.”
Next week, county staff will present a proposed amendment to County Code, as directed by the Board of Supervisors in November 2025, to strengthen penalties for illegal fireworks and the unauthorized use of safe and sane fireworks.
Representatives from the county, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire, and Sacramento County code enforcement will present the 2026 Illegal Fireworks Strategic Plan.
From an enforcement perspective, Igoe said the plan would involve using more drones, focusing on hotspots like Antelope and Orangevale, and bringing in additional staff to respond to calls.
“Hopefully, we can alleviate it all together. If not, we’re going to have the manpower to be able to address these issues and there’s going to be stiff, stiff penalties,” Igoe said.
The proposed penalties would increase fines to $1,000 per firework instead of $1,000 per violation, with fines reaching up to $10,000 per firework near a park, school, or the American River Parkway.
“These actions are part of a broader effort to reduce illegal fireworks use, enhance community safety and prevent fires to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all residents,” Kim Nava, a county spokesperson, said.
The board will hear the proposal at their meeting on Tuesday, March 24.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel