Tampa Fire Rescue responds to multiple fireworks-related incidents

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Fire Department says it responded to several calls for fires, injuries and property damage caused by fireworks during Independence Day celebrations.

A press release said these incidents “reminded us of the dangers posed by amateur firework operators and the importance of leaving fireworks to trained professionals.”

In an incident around 8 p.m. Thursday in the Belmont Heights neighborhood, a woman and a child were reportedly injured when someone threw fireworks into a crowd. Both were taken to Tampa General Hospital to be treated for burns to their lower bodies, fire officials said.

In another incident, this time around 1 a.m. Friday, the Tampa Fire Department responded 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 engulfed in flames that spread to the front corner of the building.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire 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 can between the house and the car.

“Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our citizens while protecting our community,” Fire Chief Barbara Tripp of Tampa Fire Rescue said in the release. “Unfortunately, this Fourth of July, we had to respond to a number of preventable incidents that were the result of the improper use of fireworks.”