By RICKY KERR
Hays Post

Only three calls for service received by the Hays Fire Department over Independence Day weekend were fire-related, according to HFD Chief Gary Brown.

“The HFD believes that our good community fire safety experience, despite the increased risk during the fireworks days, is due to good common sense of the people of our city,” Brown said.

The department responded to 26 calls for service in total for all emergencies spanning on July 2, 3 and 4, which is a 45 percent increase over a typical weekend, according to Brown.

“On July 2, the HFD responded to a dumpster fire where the most probable cause was improper disposal of fireworks debris,” Brown said. “On July 4, the HFD responded to a fire in fireworks debris and a second fire in some landscape shrubbery where the most probable cause was fireworks. These three fireworks related incidents are slightly less than average. Since 2008, the HFD has averaged four fireworks related incidents each year.”

“While not a regulated firework, on July 4 the HFD responded to one incident involving a Sky Lantern that had become entangled in a powerline,” Brown said.