In two separate incidents on Independence Day, discarded fireworks sparked fires in Appleton and Fond du Lac County.
Appleton Fire Department (AFD) says they responded to multiple dumpster fires Friday night, all caused by improperly discarded fireworks. One of the fires extended to a structure, causing some exterior damage. Quick work by returning fire crews prevented major damage to the mixed-use building.
AFD is urging residents to follow National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines when disposing of fireworks. The NFPA recommends soaking both used and unused fireworks in water—ideally overnight—before double-bagging them in plastic and placing them in the trash. Firefighters also emphasized the importance of homeowners carrying insurance as a cost-effective way to recover from fire-related losses…