VIDEO: Several people are temporarily without homes after fireworks reportedly led to two house fires on the Fourth of July. Fire crews from Peoria, Glendale and Phoenix were called to a house fire near 67th Avenue and Jomax Road around 10:45 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find a heavy fire in the attic of a two-story home. Firefighters aggressively fought the flames and were able to stop the fire before it consumed the entire roof, saving most of the home.
โHistorically, just July 4th on its own is our busiest night,โ said Peoria Fire-Medical Department Battalion Chief Ken Wier. At about 9:30 p.m., Wier says crews responded to a different house fire near 75th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Wier says the cause of both fires is under investigation, but early information suggests that the separate fires started when used fireworks were disposed of in the trash and later caught fire.
โOn Fourth of July, itโs very common for homeowners to use fireworks and then once the festivities are over they put them in their garbage can. But a lot of times when they do that the fireworks arenโt completely extinguished,โ said Wier. The Peoria Fire Department reports that no injuries were reported to fire personnel or members of the public. โPretty scary, I think we should have a designated place to probably let these off so that this kind of stuff doesnโt happen,โ said Sean Koester, whose parents live near 67th Avenue and Jomax Road.
