The city of Los Angeles is hosting a fireworks buyback event on Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley in an attempt to take illegal fireworks out of circulation before July Fourth.
The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brand Park in Mission Hills, will allow residents to turn their fireworks in and receive gift cards and other rewards.
“We want to encourage member of our community to voluntarily turn in these dangerous fireworks, these dangerous explosives,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said.
“They’re a threat to public safety in our community. They pose larger dangers for our hillsides in particular.”
The pilot program is part of a larger LA city effort to cut down on injures and pollution from a surge in the use of illegal fireworks.
LA Police Chief Michel Moore said the program is modeled after the city's gun buyback program.
“We’ll provide you with a gift in exchange for you providing us those fireworks," Moore said. "No questions asked.”