Enhanced Firefighting Force Battles Flareups, House Fire on July 4

Firefighters in Gilroy spent more than 10 hours dealing with Fourth of July flareups Monday, with one fire , said fire Capt. Joshua Valverde.

The cause of the house fire is still under investigation, but the captain said the other incidents were likely related to the improper disposal or unsafe use of fireworks.

“Somebody likely failed to douse the fireworks with water or make sure they were fully out before throwing them away,” he said.

Gilroy had bolstered its ranks in preparation for the risks that come with the July 4 fireworks, with four firefighters for each of the city’s three stations, the captain said.

"Some years you have a lot of fires, and some years you don't have that many," said Andy Holiday, Gilroy fire investigator.

It is a traditionally busy day for the city’s firefighters, with its own specific Fourth of July “Incident Action Plan.”

That plan was put into action throughout the day, starting with a small grassfire off Highway 101 at 11:30 a.m.

“The weather and heat already makes it a naturally busy time for us,” said Valverde.

Improper use of fireworks likely caused a fire that scorched several juniper bushes and a stucco wall at 500 I.O.O.F. at 1:40 p.m., the first of several fireworks-related calls, he said.

Two garbage can fires and a Dumpster fire that evening were likely caused by improper disposal of the still-hot remains of fireworks, said the captain.

Reports of the house fire at 160 Bennet St. came in at 10:41 p.m., with flames growing large enough to consume the house’s garage and require all of the city’s resources and the help of other firefighting agencies.

A crew from the South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District ran calls within the city while local firefighters spent hours cooling the hot material that could reignite within the home. Called “overhauling,” the procedure was finished at 2 a.m., said Valverde.

The final fire-related call of the evening, the flaming trash bin, was at 12:20 a.m., he said.

“Overall, it was a very busy night,” said Capt. Valverde.

Fire Investigator Holiday suggested that those celebrating with fireworks dispose of the remains in a 5-gallon bucket of water and leave them overnight. Supervision of children is also important, he said.

"It's like having a campfire—campfires are great, but without supervision, they can be dangerous," he said.