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Fireworks Complaints Light Up Holiday
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Plenty of complaints of illegal aerial fireworks came in to the Escalon Police Department on Monday, making for a busy Fourth of July holiday chasing after the elusive sparklers.

Authorities report multiple complaints but, as is the case with most fireworks calls, it's hard to track them down. One garbage can fire on Tamara Court was attributed to fireworks on Monday and the Escalon Fire Department also responded to a grass fire on South Campbell over the weekend that torched three acres and was sparked by fireworks.

The bulk of the complaint calls came between 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Monday, July 4. Calls included reports of the illegal aerial fireworks in the 2100 block of Coley Avenue, on Countrywood, in the area of Judith and Sophie, Tiffany Court, Michelle Way, the 1000 block of California, Stanislaus and Miller, and the area of Tamara Court and Jennifer Drive. The final call of the night, at Tamara and Jennifer, resulted in everyone outside in the court receiving a warning about using the illegal brand of fireworks.

Only the 'Safe and Sane' variety, certified by the fire marshal and sold locally by community groups during the holiday period, are allowed in Escalon. Any that leave the ground are illegal.

One call on Saturday night, July 2 came in just before 9 p.m., a complaint of aerial fireworks in the area of Countrywood and Melissa, with a warning issued.

Escalon firefighters, meanwhile, responded to the trash can fire about 10:36 p.m. Monday on Tamara Court and attended to that fireworks-induced fire. They also were dispatched to a possible river rescue at Jacob Myers Park earlier in the day, responding with Stanislaus County about 5:15 p.m., but crews were unable to locate any problems on the water at the park.

Early Tuesday morning, July 5, firefighters responded to a working structure fire in the 30000 block of Lee Avenue, arriving on scene to find a detached garage fully involved in flames.

Police also had a busy weekend for the holiday period, making a handful of arrests in addition to responding to the fireworks complaints all around the city. On Saturday, July 2, police, fire and ambulance crews responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident in the 2000 block of Highway 120, with a 74-year-old woman struck by a vehicle. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital with head, facial and other injuries. The accident occurred just after 9 a.m.

On Sunday, July 3, officers were dispatched to a report of a physical altercation between a man and a woman in the 2300 block of Autumn. Upon arrival, police determined the incident was a mutual battery and placed both parties under arrest. A 31-year-old Escalon man and a 29-year-old Escalon woman were both arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and booked at Stanislaus County Jail. The call came in shortly before 2 a.m.

Officers on patrol checking the high school campus early morning Monday, July 4 observed a subject pulling on the front doors of the building and then had to chase down the subject when he attempted to flee. The incident occurred just before 1:30 a.m. and the 17-year-old Escalon boy was booked at Juvenile Hall on suspicion of prowling and obstructing a police officer.