Firefighters in Concord on Friday demonstrated why they are pleading with everyone to leave fireworks to the professionals this Fourth of July weekend.
In a controlled demonstration with fire hoses at the ready, firefighters put a sparkler and small fountains – sold as "safe and sane" fireworks – into a patch of dry grass.
The fire had quickly spread within about a minute.
On average, firefighters take up to five minutes to respond to emergency calls, and that’s enough time for a small firework to do a lot of damage.
"In approximately a minute, the fire can get out of control," Contra Costa County Fire Marshal Chris Bachman told KCBS Radio. "To where it’s probably leaving your yard, getting into a neighbor’s yard, getting into open space and putting other structures and people in danger."
Even with more resources on hand this weekend, firefighters expect to be busy. Fire officials expect fireworks sales to increase ahead of the holiday, so it might take even longer for them to get there if a fire starts on July 4.
All fireworks, even ones labeled "safe and sane," are illegal in Contra Costa County. They’re illegal elsewhere in the Bay Area, too, including in San Francisco and San Jose.
In Contra Costa County, residents can report illegal firework use before it happens by calling a toll-free tip line at 1-833-855-2021.
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