Trinity County, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Trinity County's General Plan Safety Element states that all of the county is within State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) or Federal Responsibility Areas (FRAs), with wildfire-protection responsibility resting with CAL FIRE or federal agencies, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests). The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region states that 'Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands,' a permanent rule under 36 CFR 261.5(h) that applies year-round. Under California's State Fireworks Law (Health and Safety Code section 12500 and following), fireworks are split into 'safe and sane' and 'dangerous' fireworks. 'Dangerous' fireworks - anything that explodes, shoots into the air, or moves erratically across the ground - are illegal to possess without a state permit under HSC section 12677. Even 'safe and sane' fireworks may only be used where a local jurisdiction allows them and never on SRA wildland or federal forest land. Because Trinity is forested mountain country with severe wildfire history (it was within the 2020 August Complex, the largest wildfire in California history at over 1 million acres) and effectively all land is SRA or federal, residents should treat consumer fireworks as off-limits. Always confirm current rules with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office and CAL FIRE before any holiday.