Improperly thrown fireworks started a fire that destroyed two homes in Parker early Tuesday morning, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.
Spent fireworks thrown into a trash can outside the garage of one of the homes started a blaze that destroyed that home and a neighboring home, firefighters said. The fire was reported shortly after midnight at 10716 Kimball St.
“They thought that because the fireworks had gone off and been used, it was cool enough to toss in the trash and be safe,” said South Metro Fire Rescue spokesperson Eric Hurst. “Unfortunately, every year we respond to these types of fires, where people make the mistake… That smoldering heat ignites and re-ignites, catching everything in the bin and the plastic bin itself on fire. And at that point, the heat can just run off and cause a big fire, as we saw this morning.
A family was sleeping in their home when the fire broke out. At the house where the fireworks were thrown, a resident noticed smoke and raised the alarm, Hurst said.
“Someone woke up and smelled smoke, looked out the window and thought maybe their neighbor had a fire pit,” Hurst said. “Then they started to smell more smoke and could hear the roar of fire, and at that time they could see a large amount of fire between their house and the neighbor’s house.”
Update: 2 homes suffered major damage and the fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading to 3 neighboring homes. Firefighters are still working to put out the flames, but luckily no one was injured. Investigators are on the scene to determine the cause. Thanks… pic.twitter.com/MdjJQiAUFD
— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) July 4, 2023
One firefighter suffered a minor burn as crews tried to stop the fire from spreading to more homes on the street, which is filled with closely spaced single-family homes. The fireworks that started the fire were legal.
Fireworks should be soaked in water overnight – until fully saturated – before being discarded, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Ideally, the fireworks should be soaked in a container made of metal, and that container should be placed on a surface such as stone, concrete or gravel a few feet away from buildings, fences or other combustibles, Hurst said.
He said it’s best to keep the fireworks submerged until garbage day, at which point residents can pour the water and fireworks together into two trash bags and throw the entire setup in the trash.
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