Illegal Fireworks Spark Fire in Belmont Hills

Two boys with a pack of firecrackers were responsible for a small fire in the Belmont hills Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement released by the .

Police say that on Tuesday at approximately 5:20 p.m., the responded to a report of a fire in front of a home in the 2200 block of Ewell Road. 

Upon arrival, firefighters found the homeowner and neighbors spraying water on a fire in the landscaping.  Firefighters extinguished the fire, which burned approx 10 feet of landscaping, and remained on scene for approximately 30 minutes to ensure it was out.

Two boys, ages 14 and 15 were contacted at the scene by Belmont police. The 14-year-old is a Belmont resident, the 15 year-old lives in Redwood City. The identities of the boys are not being released due to their ages.

“The boys were cooperative and said that they had lit a pack of firecrackers in the gutter, which ignited the nearby bushes,” said . 

“This fire could have been much worse, the area it was in is part of Belmont’s heavily wooded western hills and it doesn’t take much to have a catastrophe,” Fry added.

The boys were admonished at the scene and turned over to their parents.  Possession of fireworks is prohibited by the Belmont City Code and firecrackers are also specifically prohibited by state law.

“I want to remind residents just how dangerous fireworks are, even the ones marketed as “Safe and Sane,” said Chief Fry.  Just because you can purchase them in other cities, it doesn’t mean you can possess or light them off in Belmont.” 

“It is much better to watch a professional display,” Fry added.

This was Belmont’s first firework-related fire of the year.