SAN ANTONIO — While crews remained on alert all Thursday night into the early-morning hours Friday, Bexar County officials said the number of fireworks-related fires they responded to in unincorporated areas and suburban communities this July Fourth dropped to 35 from last year's tally of 49. That amounts to a 29% decrease. The trend continues for structures fires believed to have been caused by fireworks, of which there were two this year after the county fire marshal's office responded to six in 2023.
Nearly 1,800 calls were received by the county during July Fourth festivities, 897 of which were 911 reports. The 35 fires that county crews responded to broke down as:
- 19 grass/brush fires
- 10 trash fires
- Two structure fires
- One fire categorized as (other)
- Three fires causing "traumatic" injuries, including a child who suffered facial injuries and had to be hospitalized
The two structure fires combined to cause an estimated $207,000 in damages, according to officials.
Additionally, the Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office issued one citation to a person illegally selling fireworks and recovered $10,000 worth of fireworks products that were being sold illegally.
“A lot of those fireworks will go up, they will burst, and then they will fall back down," said Monica Ramos, a Bexar County spokesperson. "What falls back to the ground are embers. The embers can get carried by the wind. So, you may think you are popping them off in a safe area, but in fact, those embers may go over to your neighbor's lawn or field.”
According to Ramos, dry conditions weren’t the only challenge. Crews reportedly responded to fires sparked by used fireworks that weren't properly doused with water.
"Pick someone in your household to be the 'designated douser,'" suggested Ramos. "Have that person be completely responsible for picking up all those fireworks, dousing them, and then disposing of them."
At University Hospital, officials say four children were admitted with firework injuries on July 4. While the health system doesn’t have data on the number of adults admitted with firework injuries, we’re told the emergency room was about 70% busier than a typical Thursday.
“Fireworks are dangerous particularly for children," said Ramos. "There comes a lot of wonder with the glowing, but we often forget the reason fireworks glow is because they are super hot. A lot of folks think it's really neat to let children play with sparklers. They tend to forget once the sparkles stop, those wires can cause severe burns; especially to tender little hands. Another thing that happens with children is when a firework doesn't go off, children may rush over there, pick it up and look at it, and then it goes off. As a parent, it hurts my heart to think that any child can be hurt. So, parents please don’t let your child play with fireworks no matter how harmless they may seem.”
Ramos hopes the county's firework report inspires caution.
“I realize that we do have some individuals out there who bought a whole bunch of fireworks and are planning to ignite them this weekend," she said. "Please just stop and think about that.”
Bexar County’s firework hotline is no longer operating this year, but if you notice illegal or unsafe firework activity you are asked to call 911.
The San Antonio Fire Department hasn't provided its own report for July Fourth-related calls this year.
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