Fires brought on by fireworks in Antioch, Pittsburg

Bay Area News Group photographer Jose Carlos Fajardo was tracking vegetation fires suspected to be brought on by illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July in eastern Contra Costa County. At about 8:45 p.m., he found a burning palm tree on Somersville Road in Antioch. Over the course of three hours, Fajardo discovered 12 more vegetation fires.

A Contra Costa firefighter extinguishes a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks on Somersville Road during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A Contra Costa firefighter extinguishes a smoldering vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks on Somersville Road during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters pause briefly to chat as they extinguish a fire at a vegetation line caused by illegal fireworks on Somersville Road during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters take a break while extinguishing a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks on Somersville Road during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Illegal fireworks explode in the night sky in Antioch, Calif., during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Illegal fireworks explode within the night sky in Antioch, Calif., during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

People set off illegal fireworks from their street during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) People set off illegal fireworks from their street during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Tomales Bay Drive, Pittsburgh

A Contra Costa firefighter approaches a fence set ablaze by illegal fireworks at a residence on Tomales Bay Drive in Pittsburg, Calif., during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A Contra Costa firefighter approaches a fence set ablaze by illegal fireworks at a residence on Tomales Bay Drive in Pittsburg, Calif., during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A family gathers on their porch and watches firefighters battle a fire caused by illegal fireworks across the street on Tomales Bay Drive during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Pittsburg, Calif. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A family gathers on their porch and watches firefighters battle a fireplace brought on by illegal fireworks across the road on Tomales Bay Drive during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Pittsburg, Calif. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters arrive at the scene of a fire caused by illegal fireworks at a residence on Tomales Bay Drive during Independence Day celebrations in Pittsburg, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters arrive on the scene of a fireplace brought on by illegal fireworks at a residence on Tomales Bay Drive during Independence Day celebrations in Pittsburg, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Morgan Way, Antioch

Contra Costa firefighters try to extinguish thick brush that caught fire from illegal fireworks on Morgan Way during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters attempt to extinguish thick brush that caught fire from illegal fireworks during Independence Day celebrations on Morgan Way in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Contra Costa firefighters try to extinguish thick brush that caught fire from illegal fireworks on Morgan Way during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Contra Costa firefighters attempt to extinguish thick brush that caught fire from illegal fireworks on Morgan Way during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Lotus Court, Antioch

Crews went door-to-door evacuating residents of Lotus Street after initial fears the fireplace might reach homes within the neighborhood. The 8,000-square-foot fire didn’t burn down and no injuries were reported. Residents returned to their homes after the fireplace was under control, in line with Contra Costa Fire Protection District officials.

Caden Pollard, 16, from left, and his sister Mia Pollard, 17, watch as a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks endangers homes on Lotus Court during Fourth of July celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Caden Pollard, 16, from left, and his sister Mia Pollard, 17, watch as a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks endangers homes on Lotus Court during Fourth of July celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A tree catches fire as a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks endangers homes on Lotus Court during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A tree catches fire as a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks endangers homes on Lotus Court during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Hillcrest Avenue, Antioch

At around 10:05 p.m., Contra Costa Fire Protection District crews responded to the 2700 block of Hillcrest Avenue. After 55 minutes of concentrated efforts, the fireplace was successfully extinguished, spokesman Captain Victor Daniel confirmed.

A driver stops to record video of a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks on Hillcrest Avenue during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A driver stops to record video of a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks on Hillcrest Avenue during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Sycamore Drive and L Street, Antioch

An illegal firework explodes over the heads of Contra Costa firefighters as they finish extinguishing a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The vegetation fire was located at the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
An illegal firework explodes over the heads of Contra Costa firefighters as they finish extinguishing a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations in Antioch, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The vegetation fire was situated on the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

An illegal firework explodes over the head of a Contra Costa firefighter as he tries to extinguish a vegetation fire caused by illegal fireworks during Independence Day celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. The vegetation fire was located at the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
An illegal firework explodes over the pinnacle of a Contra Costa firefighter as he tries to extinguish a vegetation fire brought on by illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations in Antioch, Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2024. The vegetation fire was situated on the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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