Fireworks caused two house fires overnight after people improperly discarded them in plastic garbage bins, and two families were displaced from their homes.
No people or pets were injured in the fires, according to South Metro Fire Rescue’s social media posts.
The first fire was reported just after midnight in unincorporated Douglas County when deputies arrived at a home on the 1500 block of Pebblewood Court in the Stonegate neighborhood, according to the fire department.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived first and saw flames in the garage while the family was inside trying to rescue a dog and two cats, the sheriff’s office reported on X. Deputies rushed inside to evacuate the family. Four were treated on scene for smoke inhalation and are OK. The people and pets were rescued.
The fire destroyed the garage and a vehicle inside and caused significant damage to an upstairs bedroom, the sheriff’s office reported.
The second fire was reported around 12:45 a.m. on the 5200 block of South Crocker Way in Littleton, according to South Metro’s X account.
Littleton police helped firefighters evacuate the family and a cat, the fire department reported. Firefighters were forced to punch holes in ceilings throughout the house due to charring in the attic to make sure the flames didn’t spread.
That family also is displaced, the fire department stated.
“Please remember: Fireworks may look harmless when extinguished, but leftover embers can reignite,” the Douglas County sheriff’s staff wrote on X. “Never store used fireworks near your home or in plastic bins.”
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