Crime & Safety
No Arrests Made in 4th of July Fires
Forget safe-and-sane fireworks, investigators found evidence that people were setting off professional-grade fireworks like those used in municipal displays.
Two fires sparked by fireworks in the Half Moon Bay vicinity remain under investigation, but no arrests have been made. Unfortunately, by the time firefighters arrived at the fires, the people who'd set off the fireworks were long-gone.
In both cases firefighters quickly doused the flames. The first fire, off Higgins Canyon Rd., burned about a quarter of an acre. The second, off Guerrero St. in Miramar, burned even less. The fires happened within hours of one another on July 4 - 5.
"The thing we have going for us is the dense fog adding moisture to the vegetation," said CalFire Division Chief Rich Sampson. "If this had been a drought year, it could have been a bigger problem."
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Sampson urges people to call the fire department as soon as they hear fireworks, so they can catch those responsible. Waiting until you see flames is too late.
The Division Chief cautions that investigators are finding evidence of professional grade fireworks, including a three-inch mortar, which can do a lot of damage in the wrong hands.
