Police across the county will be on the lookout for illegal fireworks for the the Fourth of July.

Police said a large amount of illegal fireworks in a storage unit caused the building to catch fire and resulted in everything stored inside to be destroyed. Investigators in the days after the fire found several other storage units with more illegal fireworks.

In addition to the Discovery Meadow at the San Jose Children’s Museum and Almaden Lake Park in San Jose, public fireworks displays are scheduled for sites in Cupertino, Gilroy, Milpitas, Mountain View, Morgan Hill and Santa Clara, according to county officials.

County fire officials said public concern about wildfires and drought conditions may have dampened use of fireworks on Fourth of July weekend.

Updated in December 2020, the City of San José now has some of the steepest fines for illegal fireworks use: $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for a second violation within 18 months, and $3,000 for a third violation.

Residents can report firework violations through the city's “Snap, Click and Report” portal or by calling 408.535.5600 or 311.

A pilot program to report illegal fireworks in San Jose has blown up in the city’s face.

The mayor's race is on, so of course there are going to be fireworks. But the latest tiff in San Jose's quadrennial contest actually involves fireworks.

When the economy tanked, metal theft increased along with the price of non-ferrous alloys. Thieves haven’t slowed down since, snatching up copper wire, aluminum, fire hydrant parts, manhole covers, streetlights and other metal parts to trade in for cash at recycling centers. San Jose’s Rules and Open Government Committee will consider endorsing legislation to combat metal theft when it meets Wednesday. Other items on the agenda include firework regulation and defending mobile home residents from rent hikes.

In honor of Independence Day, we want readers to break free from their cyber shackles and light something on fire that seconds later shoots in the air and explodes without hurting anyone or setting fire to other things. We’ll be back Thursday. Until then, here’s a guide of local festivities for the 4th of July, including the San Jose Giants shooting off some fireworks, Santana Row hosting a barbecue and Camera 3 theater showing a campy movie. Get some.