Cathedral City reports fewer fireworks calls in 2025 after enforcement and outreach

Cathedral City police and fire officials reported Aug. 15 that fireworks-related calls and some fire calls fell in 2025 compared with 2024, following a June public-education campaign and targeted enforcement over the July 3'5 period.

Deputy Chief Sanchez said the department augmented patrols and worked with code enforcement to address illegal fireworks. "The possession and discharge of aerial and explosive fireworks remain prohibited within the city limits, yet they continue to generate numerous complaints and safety concerns annually," Sanchez said, summarizing the department's public-education and enforcement approach.

For July 3'5, the police department recorded 546 total calls for service, with 77 incidents related to fireworks. The department reported 55 fireworks-related calls in 2025 compared with 74 in 2024. Citations increased to seven in 2025 from three in 2024, and arrests rose to five from four during the same comparison. The fire department reported 139 calls across July 3'5 in 2025, down from 155 in 2024 and similar to the 142 calls in 2023.

Sanchez credited a combination of outreach, signage on fire engines and vehicles, and coordinated code enforcement for the decline in fireworks calls. He also noted operational adjustments planned for 2026: the department intends to implement a drone-first-responder program to enhance situational awareness during high-activity periods and recommended restoring administrative citations for fireworks to code enforcement (language to be drafted for 2026), which had been removed previously.

The presentation was informational and the council did not adopt immediate policy changes during the session.