PORTLAND, Ore. -- Every year, citizens flood 911 emergency dispatchers with calls about non-emergency situations involving fireworks, but dispatchers hope this year can be different.

Dispatchers said 911 should only be used to report situations that are an immediate threat to life or property. For incessant noise or other complaints related to fireworks, dispatchers said people should call the non-emergency phone number.

In Washington County, the non-emergency number is 503-629-0111.

In Multnomah County, the non-emergency number is 503-823-3333.

Fire and ambulance crews will be prioritizing service based on the importance of each call and simply dialing 911 won't get a quicker response if the caller is reporting something that isn't an emergency, dispatchers said.

"There's always a bunch of small fires caused by fireworks. Either small grass fires, or bark dust started on fire. But there's also been house fires started because of illegal fireworks that fly and land on someone's roof," said 911 Supervisor Dennis Kujawa.

The 911 center staff said they'll take all calls people believe to be an emergency situation. But they ask that callers use the non-emergency numbers for situations that are not an immediate threat to life or property.

"If someone is shooting off fireworks toward a home, or toward a group of people; that's a 911 call," Dutra said.

View a list of non-emergency phone numbers.

Dispatchers: Don't Call 911 For Firework Noise