Riverside County Fire, Law and Code Enforcement officials remind residents and visitors that fireworks are illegal in Riverside County; meaning that individuals may not sell, purchase, transport, store or use fireworks in the county.

Fireworks are illegal in Riverside County, with the exception of the cities of Desert Hot Springs, Blythe, Coachella and Indio. Fireworks purchased in these cities should not be transported, used or possessed outside of the cities in which they were purchased.

Riverside County law enforcement has a zero-tolerance policy against those who sell, purchase, transport, store or use fireworks in Riverside County and are subject to fines of up to $500 and confiscation of the fireworks.

All fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal because they cause serious injuries and very often start fires.

“Fireworks can cause life-altering injuries. Unprecedented drought conditions add extreme risk of one spark from a firework starting a wildland fire,” said CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins. “Please leave fireworks to the professionals.”

Fireworks also can traumatize pets. Keep pets indoors or away from the loud noises of fireworks shows. According to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, hundreds of pets are recovered that escape their yards and dozens are injured each year as the result of trauma from fireworks.

A list of inspected and approved fireworks shows for families to enjoy may be found at www.rvcfire.org/Documents/2015%20Fireworks%20Shows%20v2.pdf.

To report the use or sales of illegal fireworks within the county, call 1-800-950-2444. You may also report the use of illegal fireworks via the Fireworks Report (http://www.riversidesheriff.org/fireworks/) web form. This form will be available Wednesday, July 1, at 6 a.m. until Monday, July 6 at 6 a.m.