Pittsburgh Begins Crackdown On Personal Fireworks Use

PITTSBURGH, PA — City officials are vowing a crackdown on consumer-grade fireworks after a sharp increase in fireworks-related calls to police last year.

The Fireworks Task Force has begun patrols after personal fireworks being set off resulted in seven structure fires, several brush fires, reported injuries and multiple noise complaints. The task force handed out 22 citations.

The task force will be on patrol every evening from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. until July 5.

Personal fireworks have been legal to purchase since a change in state law in 2017, but it's illegal to discharge them within 150 feet of a structure within city limits. Fireworks also can be set off in any city park, ball field or city-owned property.

When fireworks task force members and uniformed police officers respond to initial fireworks-related complaints, they will explain the laws and regulations governing consumer fireworks in the city. Additional calls to the same address could result in a $100 citation and
confiscation of the fireworks.

“The use of fireworks in the city can result in serious injuries and destruction of properties, as well as being very disruptive and unnerving for both people and pets,” Public Safety Director
Wendell Hissrich said. “That’s why this year, in a concerted effort to keep everyone safe, we will also be utilizing the city's Shotspotter system to help track illegal fireworks use.”

The Fireworks Task Force is composed of eight members from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire.