Illegal Fireworks Likely Caused Dozens of Fires in Ca. City
July 06--In eight hours on the night of Fourth of July, Fresno Fire Department responded to about as many calls as it normally does in a whole day.
Local emergency responders stayed busy Saturday night as the holiday and dry climate converged. Firefighters around the state reported concerns about fireworks igniting fires in the drought-thirsty brush.
Of the 92 incidents Fresno firefighters dealt with between 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday, Battallion Chief Todd Tuggle said, around half were fire-related. He said usually 60% of calls are medical.
The biggest fire was an empty commercial building at Grant Avenue and Abby Street in central Fresno. Passers-by reported the fire just past midnight. When crews arrived, including 45 personnel and nine fire engines, the former patio furniture manufacturing facility was completely engulfed in flames.
Tuggle said the fire initially was reported to have been started by illegal fireworks, but it's difficult to know for sure because those fireworks travel and fuel beds can take hours to get hot enough to spark flame. The building had burned twice in the past year.
"We were really busy last night chasing down illegal fireworks, so to tack on a commercial fire like that is a major taxing of our resources," Tuggle said.
Stretched resources
While containing the commercial fire, another call came in about a fire on San Pablo Avenue north of Olive Avenue in the Tower District.
Richard Cisneros, 41, said he's not sure how the fire started in his tool shed, burning $10,000 worth of building equipment and tools. He and his family were asleep inside and awoke to authorities pounding on the front door.
Tuggle said there were a few other fires likely started by illegal fireworks Saturday night, including a 5-acre grass fire near buildings at Fowler and Church avenues in southeast Fresno. He said that fire required five engines and kept personnel busy for an hour.
"That delays response to other calls -- medical, traffic accidents, fire, you name it," he said. "We have a finite amount of resources and when they get calls they are committed to those incidents."
Legal fireworks can be sold in Fresno between June 28 and July 6 and can be lit any day of the year. But even so-called "safe and sane" fireworks -- those that don't fly or explode -- can be dangerous if not used correctly. Some cities and counties around the state only permit fireworks in professional shows.
Safety reminder
Dan Aldape, pastor of TheCurrent.tv church, partnered with Discount Fireworks Superstore to sell fireworks near the intersection of Shaw and Blackstone avenues. Keeping 30% of profits, the week-long sale was his church's biggest fundraiser of the year.
Aldape hopes to bring in $20,000 this year to expand the church's kids ministry building. He doesn't worry about fireworks safety because the stand complies with all rules. He also gives customers fireworks operation safety tips and a safety flier prepared by the Fire Department.
"We suggest keeping a bucket of water or a hose nearby," he said.
Aldape said he watched illegal fireworks going off near his stand Saturday night. A few customers even asked if they sold illegal fireworks.
Clovis cracks down
In Clovis, the police and fire departments identified around 20 property owners with illegal fireworks Saturday night. They deployed several units throughout the city and used undercover officers to catch people with illegal fireworks; each faced a $1,000 fine.
The fire department responded to two fires attributed to illegal fireworks. One was a small grass fire and the other involved wood shake roofing, causing the homeowner $5,000 in damage.
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