West Bloomfield yard catches fire after bottle rocket lands on dry grass

(Detroit-WXYZ) - "It is not what you want to come home to,” said Ferris Hamama.

He arrived at his home on Torybrook Circle in West Bloomfield Township to find it surrounded by fire trucks earlier this week.

“I asked where the fire was, they said right here,” says Hamama.

He learned that a neighbor had shot off a bottle rocket, and when it landed in his yard, his grass caught fire.

“I am lucky it just burned my grass. I have a home,” says Hamama.

West Bloomfield Firefighters are preparing for the community to be extremely dependent on them on Independence day. They fear the combination of dry weather and newly legalized fireworks could lead to grass, brush, and possibly house fires.

West Bloomfield Township has put an ordinance in place restricting fireworks such as bottle rockets, however state law allows them on the day before, of, and after national holidays including Independence Day.

The DNR is monitoring conditions and warning southern lower Michigan that the area is at a high risk for fires right now. If conditions get worse the state fire marshal has the ability to ban fireworks and campfires. So far that hasn’t happened.

“I would recommend that people not fire off fireworks,” said West Bloomfield Township Fire Marshal Pat Riney. “If you are going to set off fireworks try to keep them on your property.”

If may also be a good idea to water your lawn in the coming days, so that it is less likely to catch fire should it come in contact with a bottle rocket.

Do you think the state should restrict fireworks due to the dry conditions? Do you think the new law allowing fireworks such as bottle rockets is a good or bad idea? Vote in the attached poll and leave your comments below to make your opinion heard.