City of Galt issues $391,000 in fines for illegal fireworks activity during Fourth of July weekend
MARICELA DE LA CRUZ HAS MORE FROM THE SACRAMENTO CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. A SLOWER 4TH OF JULY AS MORE PEOPLE CHOSE PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS SHOWS TO LIGHT UP THE SACRAMENTO SKY. WE DIDN’T EXPERIENCE THE FIRE BEHAVIOR LIKE WE’VE SEEN BEFORE IN OTHER 4TH OF JULY WHERE WE’RE BURNING STRUCTURES, VEHICLES, EMPTY FIELDS. BUT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS WERE STILL A PROBLEM. FROM SOUTH SACRAMENTO TO THE CITY’S NORTH SIDE IN NORTH SACRAMENTO. WE DID EXPERIENCE ONE HOUSE THAT HAD A GATHERING. THEY HAD NUMEROUS FIREWORKS THAT WERE ILLEGAL, AND WE JUST SAT THERE WITH THE DRONE AND WE JUST COUNTED. AND THE FINES ARE UPWARDS OF $100,000 JUST FOR THAT ONE HOUSE. SO FAR, OFFICIALS HAVE RELEASED THEIR 4TH OF JULY ENFORCEMENT NUMBERS. THEY ISSUED 70 CITATIONS ON THE HOLIDAY ALONE, TOTALING ABOUT $300,000 IN FINES. AND THAT NUMBER COULD STILL GROW. OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE CONTINUING TO REVIEW EVIDENCE FROM OTHER DAYS TO IDENTIFY MORE PEOPLE ACCUSED OF USING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. OUR DRONE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. YOU COULD READ ADDRESS NUMBERS WITH OUR DRONES. OUR DRONES ARE VERY ADVANCED, AND IF YOU THINK YOU WON’T BE IDENTIFIED, FIRE OFFICIALS SAY, THINK AGAIN. THEY SAY THEIR DRONE FOOTAGE IS CLEAR ENOUGH TO HELP THEM TRACK DOWN THOSE RESPONSIBLE. AND ONCE THOSE CITATIONS ARE ISSUED, PAYING THE FINE ISN’T OPTIONAL. SO IF THEY CAN’T PAY THEIR FINES, THAT DOES GO TO COLLECTIONS. AND THEN THEY START DEALING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY OF HOW TO PAY OFF THAT FINE. WHETHER WE MAKE SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT ON A PAYMENT PLAN, THAT’S UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. WE JUST GO OUT, COLLECT THE EVIDENCE. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. THE CITY OF RANCHO CORDOVA IS STILL REVIEWING THE DATA, BUT ON THE FOURTH, ROSEVILLE ISSUED SIX CITATIONS AND RESPONDED TO FIVE VEGETATION FIRES IN FOLSOM. CREWS ISSUED F
City of Galt issues $391,000 in fines for illegal fireworks activity during Fourth of July weekend
Updated: 2:13 PM PDT Jul 16, 2026
Thousands of dollars in fines were issued after the city of Galt and the Cosumnes Fire Department came together to address the use of illegal fireworks during Fourth of July weekend celebrations. (Video player above: Thousands of dollars in fines issued for illegal fireworks in Sacramento area)With the help of drone technology, enforcement teams were able to identify over 20 locations where illegal fireworks violations happened throughout the city, Galt police said.Each illegal firework used in any capacity is considered a separate violation and is therefore subject to a fine of $1,000 per device under Galt municipal code.The city has now issued a total of $391,000 in illegal fireworks violations.| MORE | Del Paso Heights home issued $100K in illegal fireworks citations, Sacramento fire officials sayNotices and violations are expected to arrive in the coming days as they have already been mailed out, police said. Fines are not only for the people using illegal fireworks but the property owners, renters and event hosts who allow any kind of illegal fireworks activity.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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
Thousands of dollars in fines were issued after the city of Galt and the Cosumnes Fire Department came together to address the use of illegal fireworks during Fourth of July weekend celebrations.
(Video player above: Thousands of dollars in fines issued for illegal fireworks in Sacramento area)
With the help of drone technology, enforcement teams were able to identify over 20 locations where illegal fireworks violations happened throughout the city, Galt police said.
Each illegal firework used in any capacity is considered a separate violation and is therefore subject to a fine of $1,000 per device under Galt municipal code.
The city has now issued a total of $391,000 in illegal fireworks violations.
| MORE | Del Paso Heights home issued $100K in illegal fireworks citations, Sacramento fire officials say
Notices and violations are expected to arrive in the coming days as they have already been mailed out, police said. Fines are not only for the people using illegal fireworks but the property owners, renters and event hosts who allow any kind of illegal fireworks activity.
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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google