Illegal Fireworks Spark Dozens of Bay Area Fires on July 4th, Injuring Several and Killing Two Dogs

Illegal fireworks sparked over 60 fires across the Bay Area on July 4th, significantly impacting Oakland, which saw a surge in fire incidents. The Oakland Fire Department responded to more than four times its usual daily calls, including a critical structure fire that injured one person and killed two dogs. This fire required 30 firefighters and was under control within 35 minutes. In Alameda, a fireworks-related incident destroyed two homes, with no injuries reported, while Antioch faced a fireworks explosion that injured five people. Fire crews in Antioch also extinguished a vegetation fire that threatened nearby homes.

In North Fair Oaks, a juvenile sustained injuries in a suspected fireworks incident but was hospitalized without life-threatening conditions. San Jose fire crews managed a tree fire that damaged multiple properties, with one resident hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. Despite the widespread fire activity, officials noted no fatalities, attributing this to the rapid response from fire crews.