According to a press release, a grass fire that occurred on July 3 was unintentionally started by two unsupervised minors shooting off fireworks from behind one of the boys’ homes on Keswick Drive. The fire required the assistance of fire and police departments from several nearby cities and the U.S. Forestry Service.
One of the boys contacted 911 to report the fire and his role in starting it. The DeSoto Fire Marshall and the DeSoto Police Department, who was investigating, were able to determine who caused the fire that destroyed 192 acres of open grasslands based on that tape and physical evidence that pointed to the fire’s starting place behind the residence.
One responding firefighter was injured from the grass fire and was sent to a local hospital for treatment of heat-related issues.
Two citations were issued to the minor’s parent at 813 Keswick Drive by Fire Marshall Brandon Freeman. Fireworks are prohibited in DeSoto; therefore, one citation was for the illegal use of fireworks, and another was for possessing them.
The maximum fine for each citation is $2,000. The City of DeSoto will potentially file claims to recover fire-related expenses.
The city acknowledged Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Dallas, and Ovilla for their assistance in containing the fire. DeSoto also recognized the Flower Mound Fire Department and the U.S. Forestry Service for their aid with bulldozers and flybys used to assess the status of the fire.