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.

For those looking to stay in San Jose, the Rotary Club will host its free fireworks show from 6 to 10pm at Discovery Meadow.

We here at San Jose Inside are quite partial to fireworks. Check out this list of local Fourth of July events in and around San Jose.

From chili cookouts and barbecues to parades and firework shows, there are no shortage of events in Silicon Valley this Fourth of July.

You may have a barbecue planned or a pool in which to swim and soak yourself to prune-pleteness. But maybe, just maybe, you haven't figured out plans for the Fourth of July, the most sacred of national holidays. We've got you covered.

After six years without a single spark, the Rotary Club will bring the fireworks back to downtown San Jose’s annual Independence Day celebration. If that doesn't sound enticing, we've compiled 15 other 4th of July events.

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.