By Mike Kinney
The predicted deluge of illegal fireworks that lit up over Richmond during the Fourth of July weekend left no neighborhood at peace and once again overwhelmed the police and fire departments, according to neighbors, community leaders and officials.
Between Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 2 a.m., the Richmond 911 dispatch center received 328 calls for service related to illegal fireworks. Richmond Fire companies were “extremely busy,” according to Battalion Chief Aaron Osorio in a report shared with Richmond Mayor Tom Butt. Juveniles setting off fireworks caused a quarter-acre fire in the 3100 block of Southhamptom Ct. Large fireworks set off in the 800 block of Banks Drive caused a 3-acre vegetation fire in Point Pinole Park. A large fireworks show also caused a vegetation fire in the 1200 block of Kelsey St.