Illegal fireworks spark fire, threaten Renton building

RENTON, Washington – Firefighters are once again warning people about the dangers of illegal fireworks this July 4 after a Renton apartment complex was put in serious danger.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, Renton firefighters were dispatched to the scene of a fast-spreading brush fire that was threatening the safety of people living in the Heritage Hills Apartments.

“People playing with fireworks started a brush fire,” a Renton Police Department spokesperson said on social media. “The flames were within a few feet of the building before Renton Area Fire Department arrived to extinguish the fire.”

The fire forced the evacuation of the building and threatened nearby cars, including a Mustang owned by Michael Mitchell.

“The flames were shooting up into the air,” Mitchell said. “At one point it was so bad I thought it was in my apartment.”

The father of a three-year-old child lives on the top floor.

“I'm on the fourth floor,” he said. “I looked out and it was just a plume of smoke. Everything caught fire and it happened really fast.”

Investigators say someone illegally set off fireworks in a nearby parking lot.

“There was smoke everywhere,” another tenant said. “It was right outside my apartment.”

Before firefighters arrived, good Samaritans threw water on the flames and one person even used a fire extinguisher to create a fire barrier.

“I can’t thank the bar owners enough,” Mitchell said. “They got buckets and buckets of water and we dumped it out because the fire got within a foot of my car.”

Fortunately, no one was injured and no cars were seriously damaged.

In light of the brush fire, officials are reminding the public that the fire risk is high and that it is illegal to light fireworks.

“Go to a public event,” Mitchell advised. “Leave it to the professionals.”

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