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Amanda Butterfield Reporting Fires and fireworks prompt repeated warnings before one of the summer's more explosive holidays.
With fireworks and matches being lit everywhere, crews fear it's not if, but when they'll get the call of a fire sparked by one of the two. Firefighters say that's what likely happened a few times today.
Fireworks stands are common, which makes fire crews a little nervous because fireworks are so accessible to kids 16 and older. Whether it's kids and fireworks, or kids and matches, it's not a good mix.
In Midvale today, a shed went up in flames... fast. Investigators won't know the official cause for a day or two. But their guess is it was started by kids playing with matches.
Capt. Jay Thomas/ Midvale Fire Dept.: "Kids, they don't realize the dangers. It only takes a matter of seconds for the fires to spread."
That's what happened here. Firefighters were able to keep the flames away from anything else, and no one was hurt. But crews worry that on the next call they may not be so fortunate.
Capt. Thomas: "That's probably one of our biggest fears. Kids get hurt every year playing with fire, or start fires and can't get out. We want to make sure they're safe."
And crews dealt with a pretty intense fire this afternoon in Draper.
Sig Coach/Resident: "Three, four foot flames, but coming close to houses."
Sig Coach lives here, and noticed kids playing in the field. A few minutes later...
Sig Coach/Resident: "I looked out the window and saw the field on fire."
Capt. Michael White/ Unified Fire Authority: "It's obviously a clear reminder with fireworks, people need to be careful because it spreads so fast."
This fire was coming close to homes. Thankfully Coach and a friend grabbed hoses and started fighting it.
"A lot of people weren't home. We were the only ones out there till the fire department got there."
In the end, 20 acres burned. And just like in Midvale, investigators won't know the official cause for a few days, but it'll likely be a mix of kids and fireworks, a cause easily prevented.
"Make sure they're supervised, and they stay safe. Don't play with matches, and they're not allowed to play with fireworks unattended."
Parents, keep this in mind. If it's your unsupervised child who starts a fire with matches or fireworks, you can get stuck with the bill.
