Three Fires Mar 4th of July Festivities

Last Independence Day, Central Fire District didn't have a single fire to put out. July 4, 2012 was not nearly as peaceful.

At about 8:15 p.m., several engines responded to flames seen at Chris Johnson Glass on Chanticleer Avenue in Live Oak. Firefighters made their way to the roof of the building where they found active flames inside.

An employee of the business told firefighters that he heard fireworks go off and thought they had landed on the roof, causing the fire. But according to Central Fire Spokesman Mike DeMars, the fire actually started inside one of the interior walls. 

It took 45 minutes to control the blaze, during which time sheriff's deputies evacuated residents from surrounding buildings. 

Chris Johnson Glass uses multiple kilns during the day, but the business owner told Central Fire that all equipment had been shut down at least an hour before the fire began.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but DeMars said that it certainly was not started by fireworks. While no one was injured, one wall is "completely destroyed," DeMars said.

Concurrent to the Live Oak fire were two small grass fires, which DeMars said were both caused by fireworks. 

The first was at 261 15th Ave. in Live Oak. Just one engine responded and quickly extinguished the flames. The other, however, on Mission Drive near Dominican Hospital, was more difficult to contain because it was on a hillside and wasn't easily accessible. No injuries were reported in either grass fire.