Police save family from fireworks fire

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Fire crews battled a house fire in the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach early Thursday morning and two police officers are credited with rescuing residents.

The call came in at 1:43 a.m. for a fire in the 2000 block of Sandfiddler Road, according to Battalion Chief James Ramsey with the Virginia Beach Fire Department.

Two police officers happened to be in the area patrolling the neighborhood when they spotted the fire. Both ran into the house and kicked in the door, getting everyone out safely before checking the house to make sure no one else was inside.

"By the time we got out, the flames were all over the house," homeowner Barbara Dougherty said. "We got out just in time."

Dougherty called the two officers her heroes. She was able to salvage a picture of her late husband.

Fire officials believe illegal fireworks sparked the flames.

"We're confident ... the people are in dispute of this ... but we're confident that the fire started from illegal fireworks," Battalion Chief Tim Riley with the Virginia Beach Fire Department said.

The Dougherty's say they didn't light the fireworks. Officials found them in front of the house. They say embers spread to the roof during the night.

But it's not the only house fire investigators say was sparked by illegal fireworks. A fire began around 1 a.m. in the 500 block of Caddy Court because of improperly discarded fireworks, Ramsey said. That house was deemed uninhabitable.

"What happened last night is the fireworks were shot off and then they threw them in the trash can," Riley said. "They smoldered, lit off in the trash can, and that extended to the house."

Five people were inside at the time and all five escaped.

Fire officials say the extensive damage is a sobering reminder to the rest of the community.

"Citizens just don't realize the unintended consequences of these fires and how dangerous fireworks really are," Riley said.

All types of fireworks are illegal in Virginia Beach. Riley says the dense population allows flames to spread quickly from one home to another. And because of it, there are penalties.  

"It's a class one misdemeanor for possession of fireworks," Riley said. "But, the other part of it is you can open yourself up to civil torts if you cause damage to other peoples properties."

Very few people receive summons because they have to be caught in the act. Riley says there has to be evidence of who lit the fireworks off, even if fireworks are found on the premises as they were in both of these cases.

If you do come across them, Riley says it's best to put the fireworks in a bucket of water.

"Thank you God we all got out safe," said Dougherty.

Both families are working with insurance agencies to fix the damage.

Authorities say they confiscated more than 150 pounds of fireworks in Virginia Beach on the Fourth of July. They say that number is lower than usual, most likely because the holiday fell on a weekday.