The San Jose Fire Department will have extra crews on patrol searching for illegal fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend.
Officials said fireworks add to the high fire danger this season due to the warm weather, high winds and California's severe drought.
"They'll be roaming throughout the city checking high hazard areas from 10 a.m. 'til 10 p.m.," San Jose Fire Department Capt. Cleo Doss said. "So we'll have high visibility."
Doss said the extra crews will include three engines, two brush patrols and five inspectors. The extra staffing will cost more than $21,000.
Crews recently responded to a pair of fires started by fireworks in East San Jose.
Tom Jarvis, who lives in the Willow Glen neighborhood, said he can already hear fireworks going off in his part of town.
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"It sounded like M80s going off this week and the week before," Jarvis said. "And we get a lot on Fourth of July."
Firefighters are hoping the extra patrols will stop people from using illegal fireworks and head to professional shows.
