Boston Police launches fireworks reporting hotline for July 4th weekend

With illegal firework activity always popping off this week, Boston Police has launched a fireworks reporting hotline for the holiday weekend.

BPD has established a dedicated non-emergency phone line to report fireworks-related concerns throughout the weekend — from July 3 to 6.

“To report fireworks activity, please call (617) 343-9800,” Boston Police posted.

“For emergencies or situations requiring immediate police response, dial 911,” BPD added.

Massachusetts law requires police to seize any illegal fireworks they encounter in the course of their duties.

This includes fireworks that were purchased lawfully in another state and transported to Massachusetts.

People who use or possess them illegally are also subject to a fine, while the unlawful sale of fireworks is an arrestable offense that carries potential jail time.

Of the 220 fireworks-related visits to Massachusetts emergency departments from 2020 to 2024, 111 took place during June and July. These months also accounted for 366 of the 559 fires and explosions caused by fireworks during the same five-year period.

Both injuries and fires held relatively steady last year and reflect a decline from the historically high numbers in 2020, when 75 ER visits and 187 fires or explosions were reported statewide.

In addition, children suffer some of the most severe burn injuries caused by sparklers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that “there were an estimated 1,600 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 900 with sparklers” in 2020.

This accounted for almost 10% of all fireworks-related injuries that year. Of those 900 injuries from sparklers, 44% were to children under the age of 5.

Sparklers are also hot enough to cause fires — even after they’ve been extinguished. In 2022, the unsafe disposal of sparklers caused a three-alarm fire in Dracut that displaced nine people.

Related Articles


Everything you need to know for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular this year


Cape Cod Fourth of July fireworks explosion: Massachusetts officials emphasize safety


Massachusetts fireworks explosion prompts emergency response at Cape Cod country club


Massachusetts police make massive fireworks bust, two men accused of selling fireworks

The Department of Fire Services posts a list of permitted professional fireworks displays, and updates it each week through the summer.

To view the professional fireworks list, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/leave-fireworks-to-the-professionals.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post House Passes GOP Megabill, Sending Measure to Trump’s Desk
Next post Kristof, Barnett: The quiet girls’ revolution in west Africa