More than 100 confiscated fireworks county-wide, as well as citations and warnings
KILLEEN, Texas (July 5, 2022) – The Killeen Fire Department had a very active Fourth of July and has released its calls and responses for the holiday.
On July 4 about 10p.m., units joined a multiagency response team to a fire on the Stillhouse bridge, following reports of fireworks being set off there. The cause is under investigation.
The KFD had all ten suppression units out of their stations patrolling their respective districts and stopping any fireworks usage that they witnessed across the city, handling fireworks warnings. The Killeen Fire Chief and two other Chief officers assisted, as well as four fire investigators who issued citations.
The following information is from 7p.m. on July 4 – 1a.m. on July 5:
KFD:
- 21 grass fires due to fireworks
- 1 dumpster fire related to fireworks
- 1 fence secondary to grass fire due to fireworks
- 1 grass fire due to fireworks with burned house trim, extinguished by KFD upon arrival
The following information if from 7p.m. on July 4 – 1a.m. on July 5:
- 2 mutual aid responses for grass fires due to fireworks (Stillhouse Bridge Fire & Williamson County-Florence Fire)
- 95+ citizen contacts with verbal warnings to cease use of fireworks
Fire Marshal:
- 56 citizen contacts from 8p.m. on July 4 – 1a.m. on July 5.
- 13 citations/summons issued
- 100+ confiscated fireworks
EMS Calls:
41 (no injuries from fireworks)
According to Bell County, there were 600 calls made to 911 throughout the county from 3p.m. – 11p.m. That figure is double the number of 911 calls on a normal shift. 450 of those calls to 911 came in from 8p.m. – 11p.m. No home structures were reported on fire in Killeen, but there were nearly two dozen grass fires and one fence caught on fire due to the fireworks.
As a reminder, fireworks are illegal in the city of Killeen, with a penalty of a $2,000 fine.