(PHOTOS) Casper firefighters, residents battle grass fire ahead of July 4th fireworks show

CASPER, Wyoming — Several times each Fourth of July night, firefighters from various agencies can be seen traveling from location to location, putting out fires caused by unauthorized use of consumer fireworks. On this Independence Day, firefighters responded to a call about a fire that broke out near the Events Center, and Casper residents initially tried to put it out themselves.

This particular fire is not a typical July 4 fire. It started in a grassy field near the Ford Wyoming Center at about 9:30 p.m. and was started by a nearby firework. That firework belonged to a private resident and was used illegally.

The fire broke out behind where residents of nearby Casper were standing to watch the city’s regular fireworks show. However, many of them noticed the fire and quickly rushed to put it out before it got out of control.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management, the city of Casper and the Casper Mountain Fire District responded and extinguished the flames before 10 p.m.

Local firefighters are on the scene and expect to see a lot of fires every July 4th for that very reason, despite the ban on consumer fireworks. The Natrona County Commission recently placed the county under Stage 1 fire restrictions, meaning the sale and use of fireworks is prohibited, including on public and private property.

Related