Fireworks start fire

ELMO - A quick response by two north county fire departments helped quell what could have been a major fire Saturday evening.

The fire began after three young children lit off fireworks that hit an old pavilion in Elmo State Park near mile marker 78 along U.S. Highway 93.

The Chief Cliff Fire Department was first on scene and volunteer Jason Heffner tried to control the flames while awaiting more trucks.

"It was starting to hit the ground and we tried to put it out before it spread," Heffner said. "It was right next to the lake and there was waist high grass and juniper trees all around. When it hits those junipers, it's gone, it's like lighting."

Seven Chief Cliff volunteers responded on scene and battled the blaze by pumping water out of the lake while the Rollins Fire Department was called in to provide more manpower.

"We had a good crew down there," Heffner said.

Heffner said Chief Cliff responded with two Type 6 fire engines and a 3,000-gallon water tender while Rollins brought a structure truck and tender. It took about three hours to put out the blaze, Heffner said, and it could have been much worse.

"There was a lot of concern there," he said.

Despite being started by the children, Heffner was pleased they owned up to their mistake.

"I've got to commend the kids because they came back and took the punishment," he said. "Not many kids would do that nowadays."