The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents not to call 911 to report illegal fireworks, except in cases that involve injury or threaten life or property, but rather to use a mobile app instead. 

The Jeffcom911 app allows users to report illegal fireworks and helps reduce the volume of non-emergency calls to dispatchers.

The app is free and available on both Apple and Android platforms.

Once downloaded onto a mobile device, select the “Report Fireworks” button, acknowledge that the report is not a life-or-death emergency, complete the form, and submit.

The form is sent directly to emergency dispatchers at Jeffcom911.   

Reports can also be made online at https://spark.backingfire.com/jeffcomco or by calling the Fireworks Hotline at 303-980-7340, which is active through July 4. 

County officials ask that reports made through the hotline have an “exact address.”

Illegal fireworks include any devices or components that, when used or ignited, project or disburse any metal, glass, or brittle plastic fragments. Cherry bombs, Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, shells and rockets, M-80s and M-100s, and helicopters are all examples of illegal fireworks.

A good rule of thumb: anything that explodes or leaves the ground is most likely illegal in Colorado.

Violators face fines of up to $750 and six months in prison.