Fireworks cause fires in two homes, elderly woman and two dogs rescued
Fireworks on the 4 th of July. A celebration for many; a near tragedy for two families when fireworks landed on top of their houses, causing a fire.
The homes of Karen Diggers and another family were hit by fireworks around midnight. They live at Adler and 13 th Street in Brawley .
” All the people banging on my door. I finally heard the noise and came out. And they dragged me out of the house, were afraid I was going to be in the smoke, ” Diggers said.
Elisha Banaga and some friends were driving by area and saw the fire; they jumped into action.
” We’re banging on the windows and we actually helped an elderly lady get out of her house and her dogs, as well. So, we made sure she got out safely, ” Banaga said.
One of the victims said there was a loud thud on the roof right before the fire started. Diggers said she heard loud noises all around her home, as well.
” I mean, it’s not just fireworks, it’s bombs going off. Things flying over in the sky and landing on the roof, ” Diggers said.
One of Diggers’ neighbors suffered burns to hands and his back fighting the fire.
Banaga said, “Some people don’t always use their fireworks responsibly, and some people are even bringing illegal fireworks and lighting them up in city limits.”
Damages are nearly $3,000.00 – it could’ve been worse.
“They should be more responsible thinking not only about themselves but about everybody else, the danger that they’re causing,” Diggers said.
The families are thankful for the help from total strangers…with a heart. Banaga said helping them just came naturally to him and his friends.
” We got out of our cars. We made sure that the family that was coming out of their house was safe and then we ran toward the other house that was on fire. We grabbed the water hose and just tried our best to water the fire down, ” Banaga said.
Diggers said, “The whole house could’ve burned.”
A national study said fireworks start over 18,000 fires per year and over $40 million in property damages.
