Massachusetts police departments are asking residents to not call 911 to report illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July. But there are numbers you can call to report the illegal activity.
Fireworks in Massachusetts are illegal without licensing and certification. State law mandates that police seize any illegal fireworks they find — even those that were purchased lawfully in another state and then taken to Massachusetts. People who use or possess fireworks illegally can be fined, while those who sell illegal fireworks can be sentenced to jail.
Illegal fireworks have caused more than 200 serious injuries, over 500 fires and explosions and nearly $1 million in damages in Massachusetts alone over the past five years, the fire marshal’s office said in a press release.
The Boston Police Department established a dedicated non-emergency phone line to report fireworks-related concerns from July 3 through July 6.
To report fireworks activity, residents can call (617) 343-9800.
In Worcester, the Worcester 311 app offers a “quick and easy way to submit non-emergency requests for assistance with issues you see around the City.”
Other cities and towns are asking residents to call the non-emergency line for their local police departments.
In Chicopee, police are asking residents to call 413-594-1700 unless it is a true emergency, such as a fire.
“911 is for emergencies, calling the non-emergency number will ensure that our 911 lines stay available for emergency calls,” the police department wrote on Facebook.
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services maintains a continuously updated list of permitted fireworks displays throughout the summer, the fire marshal’s office said. To view the list and learn more about the dangers of illegal fireworks, visit the Fire Services Department’s website.
