SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
With the Fourth of July this weekend, Reno Fire Marshal Joan Presley warns area residents that the use and possession of fireworks is illegal in the City of Reno or the unincorporated areas of Washoe County.
“Even though it may be legal to purchase fireworks in some locations outside of Washoe County, it is illegal to possess or use fireworks and or pyrotechnics within the City of Reno and in the unincorporated areas of Washoe County,” Presley warns. “Illegal possession or use of fireworks can result in fines up to $1,000 and or up to six months in jail for each offense,” she says,” and the laws also provide for seizure and forfeiture of all such materials from individuals by law enforcement.”
All fireworks are prohibited including, but not limited to non-detonating military devices such as large flares, certain propellants, specialty fireworks and larger devices used in public displays, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, sparklers, bottle rockets and similar materials that contain any explosive or combustible compound.
The Reno Fire Department does have a fireworks amnesty program which allows those with fireworks in their possession or who find fireworks to turn them in to their local Reno Fire station, police officer or sheriff’s deputy with no questions asked.
Presley points out that the cost of violating fireworks prohibitions can potentially be even much higher than fines that are imposed when fireworks result in fires that cause property damage, or the catastrophe of injury or death. And, civil lawsuits where the cost of attorneys is added to legal judgments against those illegally using fireworks can also be financially devastating.
Area residents with questions about fireworks prohibitions or seeking more information about fire safety should contact the Reno Fire Department’s Division of Fire Prevention at 334-2300.
