Fourth of July Goes Smoothly for Most in Sac County

While there were two minor fires in Citrus Heights, most Sacramento region communities held up fairly well as far as enduring any firework-sparked fires on the 4th of July, officials report.

"(Responders) handled calls for service but I don’t recall any large fires in those other areas," said Capt. Bryan Thomson, with Sac Metro Fire, referring to Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Rosemont and areas along the American River.

In Citrus Heights, a juniper tree caught fire just about 10 p.m. on Lichen and Outlook drives, Thomson reported. An illegal aerial firework was the suspected culprit, he said.

At about the same time, a grass fire near Campfire Way and Van Maren Lane burned just over a quarter to half of an acre, Thomson said. Illegal fireworks were also suspected in causing that blaze.

"We couldn’t find any remains of fireworks but an adult male was seen running away with a back pack," he said. "While he was running away we recovered illegal fireworks."

In Sacramento County's neighboring Elk Grove, firefighters responded to more than nine grass fires on the 4th. They are also believed to have been started by fireworks, thus far, report Consumnes Fire Department officials.