From the Los Angeles Times

THE SOUTHLAND

Numerous Small Blazes Keep Firefighters Busy

Most were probably ignited by holiday use of illegal fireworks, authorities say.

By Greg Krikorian
Times Staff Writer

July 5, 2005

Firefighters responded to dozens of small brush, grass and tree fires throughout Los Angeles County on Monday with many of the blazes likely to be blamed on Fourth of July celebrations involving illegal fireworks, authorities said.

The largest of the fires occurred in the West Hills area of the San Fernando Valley where a 6 p.m. blaze blackened about five acres southwest of Valley Circle and Roscoe boulevards.

Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said more than 100 firefighters and four helicopters put out the blaze in one hour.

Though the fire briefly threatened several homes, no one was injured and no structures were damaged, he said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, though residents reported fireworks being set off in the area before the blaze began, Humphrey said.

Less than 20 minutes after that fire was extinguished, Los Angeles city firefighters responded to a brush fire in the 2100 block of North Soto Street in Lincoln Heights, Humphrey said. That fire consumed four acres before it was put out in about 30 minutes. Witnesses reported seeing fireworks in the area before the blaze began, he said.

Before sundown, Humphrey said, city firefighters responded to at least a dozen other vegetation and rubbish fires of questionable origin.

And though some may have been caused by fireworks, the official causes will not be known until investigations are completed, he said.

About 9 p.m., burning embers from a fireworks show at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank ignited a series of small spot fires in nearby brush along Lockheed View Drive.

Burbank Fire Capt. Ron Bell said the fires were quickly extinguished. The area had been watered down for two weeks in anticipation of the fireworks display.

The small fires caused no injuries or damage to structures but did delay the departure of spectators.

Los Angeles County firefighters also were kept busy with expectations that they would respond to about 2,400 calls, or about three times the number of fires and other emergencies they normally handle in a 24-hour period, Capt. Mark Savage said.

"It's pretty typical for the Fourth of July," Savage said. "We are seeing many more grass fires, tree fires. We have had some structure fires."

The largest of the fires county firefighters responded to Monday consumed about two acres of brush in the Antelope Valley, Savage said.

"We'll see after all the reports come in, how many are related to fireworks," he said. "But we typically are much busier … and we normally have some injuries related to fireworks. I would imagine that this year will be no different than the rest."
Copyright © 2005, The Los Angeles Times