Tucson Fire Department personnel worked through the Fourth of July night responding to a surge of calls that stretched resources across the city. Between 7 p.m. on July 4 and 7 a.m. the following morning, crews answered 177 calls, of which 95 were fire-related, fire officials reported. Fire Chief Sharon McDonough attributed much of the increase to illegal fireworks and a series of staffing shortages that left fewer units available to cover the city.
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Tucson Fire Department emblem mounted on a station building — Tucson Fire crews responded to 177 calls over the Fourth of July weekend amid staffing shortages.
Firefighters recorded a range of fire incidents across the overnight period. The department classified 35 calls as "fire, nature unknown," and crews extinguished 22 dumpster or refuse fires. Vegetation and brush fires accounted for 17 responses, while outdoor fires involving trees, poles or fences prompted eight calls. There were three house fires, spanning apartments, mobile homes and single-story residences; two vehicle fires; and one grill or propane-tank fire during the 12-hour span.
McDonough described a common ignition pattern observed during the busiest hours. "Fireworks. A little dry spark just catches a dry piece of brush and then that takes off," she said, summarizing how small, illegal pyrotechnic displays quickly led to larger blazes. The chief also noted an uptick in the use of illegal fireworks across the city, saying they appear to be "everywhere," and linked that increase directly to the volume of fire calls the department received.
The distribution of calls forced units to move beyond their usual coverage areas. "We had units running across town away from their first two areas because of the trickle down. When one unit is out on a certain call, then the next closest unit takes its place. So, we had units way out of their areas responding to some of these calls," McDonough said. That cascading effect left some neighborhoods with fewer nearby units available at critical moments.
One of the larger brush fires on Saturday night occurred on the Southside and posed a direct threat to nearby homes. Firefighters worked to contain that blaze; city records show a previous fire had occurred in the same vicinity off South Treat Avenue and East 36th Street last year. The recurrence in that area drew particular attention from crews responding to multiple concurrent incidents across the city.
Complicating the response was a shortage of staffed units. McDonough confirmed that several units were taken out of service due to staffing limitations that night, which meant the units that remained operational faced heightened demand. She provided comparative figures to illustrate the strain: the department typically handles about 113 calls in a 12-hour overnight period, but the Fourth of July stretch produced 177 calls. That roughly 60% increase, she said, produces real consequences when crews are busy.
"When they're stretched thin, it means they're getting a delay to the next life-threatening critical emergency and that doesn't feel good," McDonough said. "When we know if we've gotten there just a little sooner, could we have had a more positive outcome—that weighs heavy on the crew." She urged residents to celebrate holidays responsibly so that fire personnel can remain available for emergencies, emphasizing the operational impact of preventable fires and the human toll on firefighters who face the consequences of delayed responses.
Tucson Fire Department's official account provided further details on the South Treat Avenue blaze, noting it was upgraded to a large brush fire with a second alarm called due to winds and embers threatening homes. Four engines and two ladder trucks contained it in about an hour before handing off to the Wildland Team, which had been stationed on A Mountain during the fireworks show. Fireworks were confirmed as the cause. (@TucsonFireDept)
The city announced that the A Mountain fireworks display will be replaced next year by a drone light show, a change officials said is intended to reduce fire risk and public-safety strain; city staff also noted the drone event might be staged away from A Mountain because of space and signal constraints and could cost more than prior fireworks displays.
Tucson Police and Fire urged residents not to call 911 to report fireworks unless people or property are in immediate danger and asked that non-emergency complaints be routed to the city’s 311 line; officials said the public-safety call center received 248 fireworks-related calls during a recent Independence Day period, contributing to dispatch strain.
City budget discussions this spring highlighted a multi‑million dollar revenue shortfall that city staff estimated at roughly $44 million, prompting council consideration of closing two fire stations and reassigning about 30 firefighters — a proposal Chief McDonough warned would lengthen response times and further exacerbate staffing pressures.