House fires can reap devastating affects upon homeowners as a fire can easily swallow up an entire home in minutes. House fires claim the lives of thousands of Americans each year and cause billions of dollars in property damage. Many times, house fires can be avoided by following precautionary measures to ensure that open flames do not come in contact with highly flammable materials. Exercising simple preventative measures can help families rest assured that their homes are as safe as possible from the deadly and destructive paths taken by house fires.
The July 4th weekend is commonly associated with accidental fires as most are eager to celebrate the nation with fireworks and sparklers. While the majority of fireworks are safely contained and cause no significant threat of damage, on occasion a celebration can get out of hand and spark a holiday tragedy that none will soon forget.
This holiday weekend was certainly no exception as two separate house fires were reported in Orange County due to fireworks. Orange county fire authorities evacuated 16 homes on Monday evening as inadvertent fires loomed nearby. The first call came from the Irvine High School, the second closely followed and was reported near the Laguna Niguel Regional Park. Both fires were called in around 9pm last night as brilliant fireworks displays ignited in the air.
The Orange County Fire Authority reports that it can conclude that both fires were started by fireworks. It is unclear whether the large fireworks displays are to blame or small personal fireworks.
The first fire near Irvine High School burned a 15′ x 70′ section of brush near the I-5 interstate. Firefighters had little trouble extinguishing the blaze. The second fire was presented a bigger problem as nearly 70 firefighters were called to battle the flames across a six-acre area of the Regional Park.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the fires and no significant property damage was reported in either situation. Orange County fire authorities stated they are used to firework activity continuing in the week after the July 4th holiday and are anticipating further problems. Authorities hope that everyone will practice safety and precaution when igniting personal fireworks near dry areas or flammable materials.
