Fireworks calls sparked dozens of extra calls for Lincoln Fire & Rescue over holiday weekend. LFR Public Information Officer MJ Lierman says firefighters responding to dozens of additional incidents and a significant house fire was caused by improperly discarded fireworks.
Lierman says they responded to 14o calls for service on July 4th, about 40 more than the department’s typical daily call volume of around 100. Lierman says firefighters handled roughly 20 fireworks-related outside fires, including trash, dumpster and vegetation fires.
Lierman said crews responded to seven dumpster and trash fires on July 4 that were linked to improperly discarded fireworks. After midnight, firefighters answered eight more similar calls, keeping crews busy into the early morning hours of July 5.
“That’s why we always suggest really watering down, soaking those fireworks. Hopefully next year we’ll do a little bit better,” Lierman says. The most serious fire occurred at 12:16 a.m. Sunday in the 2100 block of South 49th Street. Investigators determined improperly discarded fireworks in an outdoor trash can ignited a deck and spread up the side of a home, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage.
Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading into the home’s attic. Lierman also said medical calls involving fireworks injuries appeared to be higher than in previous years, although an official injury count is not yet available. Those numbers will be compiled later by the state fire marshal using hospital reports.
A separate fire on Jacqueline Drive was determined to have been caused by a lightning strike and resulted in an estimated $8,000 in damage. Despite the increase in calls, Lierman said most of the fireworks-related fires were extinguished quickly before causing significant damage.