The Bakersfield Fire Department had a busy Independence Day weekend, putting out 15 fires caused by fireworks.

Battalion Chief Danny Brown said over 800 firework-related calls were taken over the weekend and 44 illegal firework citations were written – each carrying a penalty of $1,500.

“That seems like it’s statistically on track from what it has been at in previous years,” he said.

Brown also said one child suffered a firework-related injury, and an illegal firework on Saturday caused over $500,000 damage to a home on Longway Lane.

The department spent $16,000 to staff enforcement crews.

– Anthony Pollreisz