Though fireworks that explode or launch into the air are considered illegal in Colorado, multiple metro-area fire departments had a long night responding to dozens of fires during Fourth of July festivities. 

In a 32-hour period between 12 a.m., Thursday and 8 a.m., Friday, the Denver Fire Department responded to calls involving five single-family house fires, two multi-family house fires and 119 fires involving trash, weeds or other objects burning.

Some of these calls turned out to be fake or small, but it was still a significant amount compared to a 48-hour period between June 4 and 5 in which the department responded to two fire reports in single-family homes, one commercial, two warehouses and 28 involving trash, weeds or other objects.

“This is why people should be safe. Everybody was super, super busy last night,” J.D. Chism, a spokesperson for the Denver Fire Department, said of the various firework-related fires that began in the region on Thursday.

Though it’s impossible to determine how many of the fires were related to fireworks at the time, Chism said, he noted it’s important to be safe when using the Independence Day staples. 

In surrounding Denver metro-area cities, South Metro Fire Rescue — which covers part of Arapahoe, Jefferson and Douglas county — dealt with 45 fires between 6 p.m., Thursday and midnight, with the majority being related to fireworks, the department said in a press release.

One adult was seriously injured and one child sustained minor injuries in separate fireworks incidents, the department said.

The fires in the region continued into the morning, too, with South Metro Fire battling a large grass fire at 4400 East Quincy Ave in Cherry Hills around 6 a.m., Friday.

Responders were able to contain the fire to a 150-foot-by-150-foot area around 8:30 a.m.. 

The fire began after locals heard a loud boom, the department said.

Aurora Fire Rescue also fought various fires throughout the evening in the eastern part of the metro area. 

A few blocks from the City of Aurora’s 4th of July Spectacular show on Thursday, a multi-family building caught on fire, raising fire and smoke through the air. 

The building, located in the 100 block of South Sable Boulevard, caught on fire around 10 p.m., just moments after the city finished their annual firework show. 

Four units were heavily damaged, according to the department. One person suffered minor injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The department reported three other fires throughout Thursday, but did not mention if they involved fireworks.