Fireworks Spark Home Fire; Firefighter Is Hospitalized

An explosion of illegal fireworks sparked a blaze Monday that caused $150,000 in damage to a Villa Park home and put a firefighter in the hospital with second-degree burns, authorities said.

“We believe the fire started when illegal bottle rockets landed on the wood-shake roof,” said Dennis Shell, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority. “Firefighters on the scene are conducting an investigation.”

The injured firefighter was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was expected to spend the night, Shell said. The residents--a family of two adults, two teenagers and two younger children--were evacuated without injury.

Crews responded to a call about 6:20 p.m., Shell said, and 45 firefighters took about 30 minutes to contain the fire in the two-story, 3,800-square-foot home.

“This being the time of year when we have illegal fireworks entering Orange County, it would be very helpful if people seeing others either selling or shooting them off would call 911.”

Shell said homeowners should also consider cleaning dry pine needles and other debris off their roofs.

“This can be very dangerous,” Shell said. “It’s very hot and dry now, and it will only get hotter and drier as we wear into the summer.”