Want to report illegal fireworks? Don’t call 911.

Let’s say it’s July Fourth and your neighbor in Eugene has been drawing inspiration all night from “The Star-Spangled Banner” — specifically, the line about “bombs bursting in air.”

It’s time to call the authorities to report an illegal fireworks display. But don’t call 911 — unless one of the neighbor’s fireworks has set your roof ablaze.

Eugene law enforcement officials remind residents that it’s not appropriate to call 911 with fireworks complaints, unless someone has been injured or property is being damaged by them. The idea is to keep 911 lines clear for immediate threats to life and property on what traditionally is one of the busiest days of the year for dispatchers and police officers.

The Eugene Police Department will have a dedicated fireworks enforcement team working the night of July 4 to address fireworks calls. The number to call in Eugene is the police nonemergency line: 541-682-5111.

State law and Eugene ordinances require that callers with fireworks complaints provide their name, the location of the fireworks, identification of the person shooting them off and any available evidence.

In Springfield, to report nonemergency fireworks or noise complaints or a suspicious person or activity, call 541-726-3714. In unincorporated areas of Lane County, call 541-682-4150.

In Eugene, it is illegal to sell, use, light, detonate or display any “consumer” fireworks at any time. Consumer fireworks include items such as cone or cylindrical fountains, flitter sparklers, ground spinners and illuminating torches or wheels. Limited novelty items such as sparklers or pop-its are the only exceptions. 

In Springfield, Fourth of July celebrants can legally use consumer fireworks that stay on the ground or do not fly higher than a few feet into the air, such as fountains, cones, sparklers and novelty items. Devices that fly into the air, explode or travel across the ground, such as bottle rockets, mortars and Roman candles, are banned.

Consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas of Lane County are banned once state officials declare the start of fire season. That happened June 8 this year. 

Fireworks amnesty event

The Eugene Police Department reported Wednesday, July 1, that last weekend’s fireworks “amnesty turn-in days” netted about 300 pounds of illegal fireworks in what a police spokesperson termed “a productive weekend.” 

One person turned in “railroad torpedoes,” coin-sized explosive devices placed on railroad tracks; the devices explode when a train runs over them, and the loud bang notifies operators of hazards ahead. The devices are essentially obsolete in the United States, since modern locomotives are soundproof.

The annual fireworks amnesty event allows people to turn in illegal fireworks with no questions asked.