Racine’s late-night celebrations turned costly early Sunday when three separate fires broke out after spent fireworks were tossed in the trash, officials said. Fire crews raced from a dumpster blaze to a house fire that chewed through a kitchen and the southeast side of the home, then on to a detached garage that was already fully engulfed. No residents were injured, but the incidents racked up thousands of dollars in damage and triggered fresh warnings about how not to get rid of your fireworks.
The first call came in around 12:05 a.m. for a dumpster fire near the 2000 block of Lathrop Avenue, according to TMJ4. At 1:09 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a house fire on the 2800 block of Brentwood Drive. Roughly half an hour later, at about 1:39 a.m., crews were called again, this time to a detached garage fire on the 3400 block of Fifth Avenue.
Damage on three fronts
The three fires together were estimated to have caused about $141,000 in damage, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Officials put the dumpster and fence loss at around $6,000. The Brentwood Drive home took the biggest hit, with about $82,000 in structural damage and $15,000 in damage to contents. The detached garage fire was pegged at roughly $35,000 in structural damage and $3,000 in contents. At least one household received an offer of assistance from the American Red Cross after the house fire, the report said.
How investigators traced the blazes
Investigators said they found spent fireworks at the dumpster scene and determined that improper disposal was the common thread in all three fires, officials told TMJ4. Fire officials noted that working smoke alarms and quick 911 calls helped everyone get out safely. The house and garage fires were not believed to be suspicious.
How to dispose of spent fireworks
Fire officials and national safety agencies urge people not to relight malfunctioning fireworks and to soak used fireworks and sparklers in water before throwing them away. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends keeping a bucket of water or a hose close by, waiting at least 15–20 minutes before approaching a dud, and fully soaking spent devices before placing them in the trash. Safety experts say those simple steps can keep smoldering debris from setting trash or nearby structures on fire.
Racine officials urged residents to stick with those guidelines as holiday fireworks continue. Anyone with information about fireworks-related damage, or who needs help after a fire, was asked to contact the City of Racine Fire Department.
