Mesquite Police and Fire help residents Celebrate Safely over 4th of July weekend

Mesquite, Texas – Over the weekend leading up to Independence Day and the holiday itself, the City of Mesquite Police and Fire Department proactively helped residents enjoy safe celebrations by conducting specialized patrols regarding illegal fireworks and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) concerns.

Patrols were dispatched to areas with historically high call volume on the Fourth of July in previous years. Mesquite Police Officers responded to 81 calls for service for fireworks reports and 62 calls for service for sounds of gunfire. More than 38 pounds of fireworks were confiscated, and 19 handguns and one rifle were seized. Officers made 27 DWI arrests.

The Mesquite Fire Department identified five calls for grass fires related to fireworks. Two of the calls needed assistance with small grass fires that were quickly extinguished with minimal water. There was one minor fire reported in a structure due to fireworks in the garage. No injuries were reported because of fireworks or gunfire.

“While we can’t stop 100 percent of the problem, I think we make progress every year by educating residents on celebrating the holiday in a safe manner,” City Manager Cliff Keheley said. “I want to thank all of our Police, Fire and Dispatch personnel who worked on the holiday to keep our community safe. I also want to thank the volunteers who staffed our Call Center and helped with the increased call volume.”