New Orleans Fire Department: Errant Fireworks Spark Two-Alarm Fire

Press release from the New Orleans Fire Department:

January 01, 2022

On Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 3:29 pm members of the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) were dispatched from a 911 call on a single company roll to investigate the odor of smoke and possible trash burning in the 4900 block of Werner Dr. While investigating the odor of smoke in the backyard of a home at 4901 Werner Dr., firefighters found a neighbor’s shed in the direct of rear of the 911 caller’s home on fire. A full one alarm was then requested at 3:39 pm. A second alarm was requested at 3:53 pm, as a strong southerly wind caused this fire to progress from the shed of the occupied dwelling at 4900 Eastview Dr. to the rear of the home itself, then to the shed and rear of an abandoned camel-backed dwelling at 4908 Eastview Dr. and finally extending to the rear deck of an occupied double at 4926-28 Eastview Dr.

According to witnesses, fireworks were seen hitting the dried foliage covered shed of the dwelling at 4900 Eastview Dr. Multiple groups were in the neighborhood setting off fireworks, making it difficult to determine which direction they came from.

Sixteen NOFD units supported by forty-five Fire Operations personnel were used to bring this incident under control at 4:10 pm. The fire was determined to be accidentally caused by fireworks and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

Call Received:                   3:29 pm

Dispatched:                       3:30 pm

One Alarm:                       3:39 pm

Second Alarm:                  3:53 pm

Under Control:                 4:10 pm

NOFD Units:                     16

Fire Ops Personnel:          45

Cause:                               Accidental/Fireworks

Injuries:                            None Reported

This press release was produced by the New Orleans Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.