DENVER (KDVR) — As the Fourth of July approaches, Jefferson County said it sees its 911 calls increase nearly four times the normal amount, all thanks to illegal fireworks. To keep those lines free for emergencies, they ask people to use alternative methods of reporting.

Even a week out from the holiday, those fireworks are already becoming a headache for many, with calls flooding into dispatch in Jefferson County. Instead of dialing 911, they want people to know that reporting illegal fireworks is now as simple as a tap on your phone.

“There’s so many calls," said Mark Neitro, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. "Thousands and thousands of calls.”

All of them are flooding into the county's dispatch lines.

“Sometimes upwards of a four-fold increase in our call volume in the week leading up to Fourth of July,” said Kyle Mickelson, operations manager for Jeffcom 911.

Any firework that leaves the ground or explodes is illegal in the state, but it’s not uncommon for people to make a run for the Wyoming border to bring some back home. The sheriff’s office then confiscates them by the dozen.

“We get several 55-gallon drums of fireworks every year," said Neitro.

All of those were typically confiscated thanks to people reporting the noise, and Mickelson said he hopes it isn’t through emergency phone lines.

“We only have so many people available to answer calls at any given time," he said.

More calls mean someone in critical danger may not get the help they need. Instead, he suggests using the Jeffcom 911 app or their website, both have an online reporting feature. The tip can be anonymous, but they just ask for a good address.

“The more precise of location we have of fireworks activity, or really any criminal activity, the better we’re able to dispatch the right resources at the right time to address those," said Mickelson.

The sheriff’s office said its goal isn’t to hand out punishment, instead hoping to deter fireworks usage through education, keeping that noise level down in the future.

“We don’t want to be the bad guy," said Neitro. "We want to make sure everybody has a good time and has fun, but we want them to do it responsibly.”