4th of July fire calls spike; more than double last year's totals

SEATTLE -- First responders from all around the Puget Sound say they fielded a massive amount of calls this Independence Day.

King County fire agencies responded to more than 500 incidents on July 4, up from about 200 in 2014.

Exactly how many of those calls were related to illegal fireworks is unknown, but some fire departments said they actually noticed fewer people igniting them this year overall.



Agencies in other cities reported heavy fireworks use and say their emergency crews were stretched pretty thin just keeping up with the amount of calls.





As dry conditions are expected to continue, fire crews are bracing to tackle even more flames in the days ahead.

“People are asked to be extra vigilant, as critical fire weather can produce active fire behavior and rapid spread of flames,” said Dave Nelson, with the King County Fire Chiefs Association.