Fireworks may have caused blaze that injured firefighter
July 5th, 2008, 1:12 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Nick R. Martin
A firefighter was hurt and 20 renters uprooted in an early morning apartment blaze in Mesa that may have been started by out-of-control Fourth of July fireworks. Spent fireworks were found in the courtyard of the apartment complex at 901 S. Country Club Drive, where the fire began a little after midnight on Saturday, said fire Capt. Jeff Stieber. The casings led investigators to check into if fireworks were to blame, but as of 1 p.m., no cause had been determined, Stieber said. “There was a lot of fireworks around, but they’re not sure (of the cause),” he said. “People were having a heyday.”
The blaze began on the balcony of a third-floor apartment, whose renter was not home, and spread to a neighboring unit, Stieber said. As many as 80 firefighters were called out to fight the two-alarm fire. One firefighter suffered “heat-related” injuries and had to be taken to a hospital, Stieber said. That firefighter was treated and released, and he was going to be OK, Stieber said.
In all, two third-floor apartments were significantly damaged by fire and four apartments below them were damaged by water. Twenty residents were displaced, but the apartment was able to put the renters in vacant apartments. The American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter was also there to help people with food and clothing, Stieber said.
