Crews mobilize to battle one of several grass and structure fires which broke out as the nation’s birthday celebration wound down Tuesday.
Firefighters saddled up and marched in to fight a multi-acre grass fire burning behind some homes on Whitecliff Way in Walnut Creek Tuesday night. The fire was deemed to be of suspicious origin after three individuals were reportedly spotted in the area prior to the blaze breaking out.
As that blaze was burning another broke out – actually, several others broke out up and down the county – a particularly bad one burning through a home in the 1500 block of Fieldcrest Drive in Pleasant Hill. The fire was reported at 10:39 p.m. – as the echo from official Fourth of July celebrations was just dying out, and was further complicated by a report of ammunition stored in the garage.
Neighbors reported hearing an explosion followed by fire at the residence, with responding crews reporting heavy fire involvement upon their arrival. No injuries were reported.
But as the hours ticked down to midnight other calls began to pour in, with fires reported in fields, RVs and other homes in Concord, Antioch and Baypoint.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District personnel handled a total of 58 fires, 50 of those believed to have been caused by fireworks. Additionally, at least one serious fireworks injury was reported in Martinez, with a man suffering major injuries after a pyrotechnic exploded in his hand.
Awww Did your widdel hand get BLOWN OFF?
Not going to do THAT again, eh?
Horrible injury. Hope the person heals and tells others to reconsider similar action
Smelled a lot of smoke but didn’t hear many firecrackers.
Was it just us or did it seem quieter than years past?