Fireworks Spark 3 Fires in Hillsborough County, Officials Issue Warning

New Year's Fireworks Lead to Fires

• 🎆 Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is investigating three fires that occurred overnight.
• 🎯 All three fires are confirmed to have been started by fireworks.
• 📍 The fires occurred in two locations in Riverview and one in the Palm River area.

Riverview Structure Fire

• 🔥 A significant structure fire in Riverview, on Mile Marsh Drive, began before 1:00 AM.
• 🏠 Neighbors reported seeing flames shooting out of the home and expressed fear of the fire spreading.
• 🚗 One neighbor reported some damage to her property, including ash on her cars, due to the proximity of the fire.

Fire Department Response and Warnings

• 🚒 Fire units were already engaged in another structure fire nearby when the Riverview incident occurred, potentially affecting response times.
• ⚠️ Fire officials are emphasizing the importance of cooling fireworks thoroughly after use.
• ⚠️ They warn that fires often start when used fireworks are put away while still too hot, leading to ignition in garages or other storage areas.

Safety Outcomes

• ✅ Fortunately, no firefighters or civilians were reported to be hurt during any of the three fires.
• 💡 Fire officials are urging caution and deliberate practices when handling fireworks to prevent similar incidents.