BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Even when the loud bangs and pops in get out of hand Friday night authorities asked that citizens don't call 911.

When people start hearing fireworks in their neighborhoods late at night they might be tempted to pick up the phone and call 911.

But dispatchers in Washington County are pleading with the public to think before they dial.

Every year they are flooded with fireworks-related calls.

In fact, last year alone on the Fourth of July, Washington County dispatchers took more than 1,600 calls from people complaining about noise in their neighborhood.

This year the calls started coming in late June.

Here are transcripts from two typical fireworks calls.

Call 1

Caller: Uh, they're shooting illegal fireworks in the playground of Vose school.

Dispatch: Vose Elementary?

Caller: Vose Elementary on Denney Road.

Call 2

Dispatch: 911. What's the emergency?

Caller: I got a bunch of illegal fireworks going off in my back(inaudible).

Dispatch: OK, what address is it at?

Caller: Um, I can't tell you the address.

Caller: These kids have been setting off fireworks that are obviously illegal every single night. I mean -- and I don't care -- except we have work in the morning

Dispatchers said they are tying up phone lines that are dedicated for emergencies.

Instead of dialing 911, they asked that citizens with fireworks complaints dial the non-emergency number.

That said there are times, though, when you should dial 911.

"I know that we've had reports of people having bottle rockets on their shake roof. Even if it is not on fire right now, that is an immediate threat to property," said Susan Koch of Washington County 911 Dispatch. "That is something that we recommend calling 911 for."

But, if you're calling about fireworks that aren't causing property damage or hurting someone, dispatchers ask that you use the non-emergency number.

Police Say Fireworks Calls Break Down 911 System