That is a more than 1,094% increase from the 17 fires reported on Independence Day last year, according to a city news release. In 2020, the department responded to 19 grass fires.
There were no reported injuries to residents or fire personnel this year, according to officials.
The hot and dry conditions along with the ongoing drought have increased the chances of grass fires, according to the National Weather Service. Tarrant County recently issued a 90-day outdoor burning ban in unincorporated areas due to the severe drought.
The grass fires were among the 1,155 total runs citywide for the Fort Worth Fire Department on July 4. That compares with the 521 total runs last year, according to the department.
“The calls for help were nonstop,” according to a city news release.
The city ended up halting a permitted fireworks show at Panther Island after several grass fires erupted along the banks of the Trinity River.
The Tarrant Regional Water District was the organizer of the annual Fort Worth’s Fourth.
“We apologize that the show wasn’t able to be completed,” the district said in a statement. “Necessary preparations were taken leading up to the event, and as safety is our No. 1 priority, the decision was made to cut the show short at the direction of the Fort Worth fire marshal.”
The remaining fireworks were later discharged in a controlled environment, city officials stated.
