TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Fire Rescue says they responded to several calls over fires, injuries and property damage caused by fireworks during Independence Day celebrations.
In a news release, the agency said these incidents "serve as a reminder of the dangers posed by amateur fireworks operators and the importance of leaving displays to trained professionals."
One incident around 8 p.m. Thursday in the Belmont Heights neighborhood reportedly saw a woman and child injured after someone launched a firework into a crowd. Both had to be taken to Tampa General Hospital to be treated for burns to their lower body, firefighters said.
Another incident, this time occurring around 1 a.m. Friday, saw Tampa Fire Rescue respond to a trash fire on South O'Brien Street in South Tampa, according to firefighters. Upon arrival, crews found a three-story home with a car on fire spreading to the front corner of the structure.
Firefighters were able to put the blaze out within 20 minutes, according to Fire Rescue. No injuries were reported, and investigators reportedly determined the fire was caused by discarded fireworks in a trash bin between the home and the car.
"Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our residents while protecting our community," Fire Chief Barbara Tripp of Tampa Fire Rescue said in the release. "Unfortunately, this Fourth of July we responded to a number of preventable incidents resulting from the improper use of fireworks."
