Storm Lake firefighters spent part of Independence Day chasing down two late night fires sparked by discarded fireworks.
Crews were first called at 10:28 p.m. Saturday to Sunrise Pointe Golf Course, after police reported smoldering fireworks near two vehicles. When firefighters arrived, they found burned out fireworks on the ground beside one vehicle and more fireworks still smoldering in the bed of another. The department says the fireworks had been discharged illegally and tossed out improperly, which caused the fire.
A second fire was reported at 11:56 p.m. near 715 West Milwaukee Ave. Firefighters arrived to find unattended fireworks actively burning in a patch of grass. Numerous spent fireworks were scattered throughout the area, and crews also located a live firework that had not been discharged that had been abandoned at the scene.
In all, the Storm Lake Fire Department responded to five calls for service on July 4. The department is urging residents to fully extinguish and properly dispose of fireworks, noting that debris left behind can easily ignite grass, vehicles or nearby property.
