Modesto Fire Department

Improper disposal of used fireworks is a leading cause of garbage can and structure fires in the days following Independence Day.

Used fireworks can still hold heat for hours—and tossing them straight into the trash is a bad idea. That’s how a lot of garbage can fires start, and if your bin is next to your house... you get the idea. Here’s what we recommend (and what we show in this video):

✔️ Dump all used fireworks into a bucket of water
✔️ Let them soak for 12-24 hours
✔️ Then toss them in the trash (not recycling!)

It’s a simple process that keeps your home—and your neighborhood—safe. Let’s keep the Fourth festive, not fiery!

This morning, Engine 27 responded to a pickup truck fire in a residential driveway in Oakdale.

The truck was parked just a few feet from the home’s garage, creating a significant exposure risk. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire while crews woke and evacuated the home’s occupants. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Quick action helped prevent the fire from spreading to the home.