The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is hosting two fireworks buyback events next month to encourage people to turn in illegal fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

The buybacks will take place on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Branch Courthouse at 1050 Mission Road in South San Francisco and on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new Sheriff’s Office substation at 690 Broadway in Redwood City. Bomb technicians from the Sheriff’s Office will ensure the fireworks are handled and disposed of properly.

The Sheriff’s Office said it held its first fireworks buyback event in 2023 and collected about 400 pounds of fireworks and explosives, then collected more than 700 pounds last year after increasing the cash incentive to $200 for turning in fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal throughout San Mateo County with the exception of the cities of Pacifica and San Bruno, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“Over the last two years, we’ve seen how effective it can be when we give residents a safe, anonymous and rewarding way to dispose of fireworks,” Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement. “With the continued support of our community and partners, we’re building on that progress again this year.”

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.