A house and three vehicles caught fire Tuesday night in the Porter area after previously used fireworks were improperly discarded.
One resident of the home was treated for minor burns and lacerations caused by broken glass.
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When crews arrived at the property, the home and all three vehicles were heavily damaged. The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office was able to contain the fire to the single home, preventing it from spreading further.
According to the residents, fireworks were discharged to celebrate Mexico’s World Cup victory. After the celebration, the used fireworks were gathered and placed in the bed of a truck parked in front of the home because the residents believed the fireworks had been completely extinguished.
Investigators said the debris later reignited, sparking a fire that spread from the truck to two other nearby vehicles before reaching the home.
The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office says improperly discarded fireworks are a leading cause of home fires following celebrations.
The office provided the following steps for properly disposing of fireworks:
“First off, you’ll want to make sure your pyrotechnics are waterlogged. Soak your spent fireworks and any duds in a bucket of water for at least 15 minutes and thoroughly wet any large fireworks display boxes.
The best advice is to leave the debris overnight, but once you’re satisfied that they are completely soaked, drain any excess water and place your fireworks into a sealable plastic bag to maintain moisture. For an extra measure, consider double-bagging. The key is to not let the debris dry out and re-ignite.
Place any bags of debris as far away as possible from your home or anything that could catch fire and threaten structures or other property."