Long Beach police seize 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks ahead of 4th of July

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The Fourth of July is just around the corner and lots of local police departments are cracking down on illegal fireworks.

That's especially the case in Long Beach, where detectives recently seized about 5,000 pounds of fireworks.

The person suspected of trying to sell the fireworks is now under arrest.

Not only are fireworks illegal in Long Beach, but officers say they also pose a fire risk and can be harmful to veterans with PTSD and dogs.

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Officials in Orange County are also spreading the same message ahead of the holiday. They're asking the public to use extra caution even when using the "Safe and Sane" variety.

RELATED: Orange County officials encourage fireworks safety this 4th of July

Blowing up a watermelon and mannequins, Orange County officials demonstrated just how dangerous illegal fireworks can be.

Last year, the Orange County Fire Authority says they had 38 calls that required emergency room visits on the Fourth of July, related to fireworks. Officials want families to stick to pre-planned events.

To find one near you, check out our list of July 4th events around Southern California.