Fireworks-related calls among thousands received by OKC emergency services over July Fourth

Oklahoma City firefighters responded to hundreds of emergency calls during the Fourth of July holiday.

Despite the arrival of scattered thunderstorms late in the week that brought much-needed rain, the fire department attended to 371 emergency incidents including grass fires.

Units were called out to five structure fires, 21 grass or trash fires, and 10 other fireworks-related calls.

More: Illinois man killed, Oklahoma boy burned in fireworks accidents across US

"The cause of several fires appears linked to improperly discarded fireworks, although investigations are ongoing," said OKC Fire Battalion Chief and spokesman Scott Douglas.

Last year, firefighters in Oklahoma City responded to six house fires , 29 trash fires, 17 grass fires and three vehicle fires.

Discarded fireworks — used or unused — should be doused in water before being thrown away.

A spokesman for Edmond Fire Department said they received 23 fireworks complaints on the Fourth of July, and responded to a dumpster fire that did not appear to be related to fireworks.

In Norman, firefighters responded to four fireworks-related calls and three trash fires; police officers received 122 calls about fireworks.

Fireworks-related injuries 2024

The ambulance service EMSA responded to two fireworks-related injuries in the Oklahoma City area. In EMSA's Tulsa-area division, five individuals were injured. All of those patients were transported to local hospitals. Ambulances responded to another three heat-related calls on Thursday.

Oklahoma City Police had a busy night. From 5 p.m. until 3 a.m., the police department received 2,307 calls to 911 and the department's nonemergency telephone number.

Hotline open for reporting illegal fireworks

Details about calls made to the city's hotline for reporting illegal fireworks weren't yet available Friday morning. This is the second year for Oklahoma City to open the hotline , which was created to relieve pressure off emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls.

It’s illegal to buy, sell or use fireworks in the city of Oklahoma City. Sparklers, snakes, bottle rockets and all other popular fireworks are included in the ban, which applies to all private and public property in Oklahoma City, including parks, lakes and areas along the Oklahoma River.

The hotline will remain open until July 8. If you know the address where fireworks are being launched, you can report the violation in the following ways:

• Call the Fireworks Hotline at 405-297-2222.
• Email the OKC Action Center at action.center@okc.gov.
• Text the OKC Action Center at 405-252-1053.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Fireworks-related calls among thousands received by OKC emergency services over July Fourth