By Sara Beth Williams–
Several fires broke out in Citrus Heights over the Fourth of July holiday, according to officials.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District’s active incident logs show at least three fires occurred on Friday, July 4, including a vegetation fire on Oak Avenue, another vegetation fire near Sunrise Boulevard and Highland Avenue, and another blaze categorized as a refuse fire on Brocade Avenue, near Mesa Verde High School, that was extinguished quickly.
Other small fires were reported by the Police Department, including a front yard fire at Parkcrest Way and Oakside Drive, a grass fire at C-bar-C Park, a dumpster fire at Madera Park, a tree on fire at St. Albans Court, and another fire on Glenhurst Way.
A large number of calls for small fires were also recorded in neighboring jurisdictions, including Antelope, Carmichael, North Highlands, and Sacramento, and a large four-acre fire broke out in Rancho Cordova late in the evening on July 4 near South Bridge Street and Sunrise Boulevard. Logs show engines were still working to fully mop up the fire Saturday morning.
Captain Mark Nunez with Metro Fire could not confirm any fires caused by illegal fireworks and said Saturday morning that the cause of most fires is unknown or still under investigation due to the volume of calls our investigators have to work on.
Amid a barrage of legal safe and sane fireworks, illegal aerial fireworks could be seen lighting up the sky from all corners of the city on the evening of July 4, including many exploding in the skies near Sylvan Corners, near Auburn Boulevard and the northern city limits, in the area of Sunrise Mall, near Antelope and Interstate 80, near the area of Rusch Park, and in multiple other areas.
Citrus Heights Police confirmed Saturday morning that there were numerous reports of illegal aerial fireworks city-wide and that the department was still working on compiling the total number of calls, sightings and citations issued.
