Improper fireworks disposal destroys 2 homes in Parker

Two houses on Kimball Street in Parker have been destroyed after fireworks were improperly disposed of late Monday night. Parker police officers and firefighters with South Metro Fire Rescue rushed to the 10700 block of Kimball Street in the Clark Farms neighborhood just after midnight. 

When crews arrived, they found one home fully engulfed in flames and a second home that was half engulfed in flames. 

The flames burning between the homes melted the utilities and free-flowing natural gas added to the 2nd alarm fire that destroyed the two homes. 

Firefighters were able to prevent the fireworks from spreading to three neighboring homes thanks to multiple hose lines and an aerial stream. Fire crews remained on scene for several hours while they extinguished hot spots.  

Everyone was able to escape the burning homes safely after being asleep when the fire began. No one was hurt, though one firefighter was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Investigators determined that improper disposal of legal fireworks caused the fire. Fire investigators said a fountain-style firework was placed in a plastic recycling bin against the garage. The smoldering firework ignited the plastic bin which spread to a wooden fence and siding before igniting the interior and attic space of both homes. 

"In the middle of the night, woke up and I'm in the house right across from the one that caught on fire and I looked outside when I heard screaming and I saw two houses engulfed in flames. We have a 14-month-old so my first thought was, 'Let's get everybody out of the house' so my wife grabbed our kiddo and we were out of the house within a minute," said one neighbor. "It was horrifying. We're glad that they got out. That's the important thing but we're heartbroken for them." 

Xcel Energy crews responded to the scene as part of the fire investigation and they shut off the gas line. Two families were displaced in the fire. 

According to South Metro Fire, "If you choose to use fireworks, please soak them in a non-combustible container full of water overnight. Place the container of water and used fireworks on a cement or rock surface away from anything that can burn. Once the fireworks have been submerged overnight and are fully soaked, dump all the contents into double trash bags for disposal in the garbage."