Errant firework starts blaze at Paradise Casino

The fireworks show at Paradise Casino turned into a hot situation for local fire firefighters Thursday night.

Toward the end of the display, a low-flying firework landed in an area filled with brush and sparked off a small fire that spread beyond the casino parking lot, Joe Rivera, head pyrotechnic for Fireworks Production of Arizona said.

Fire crews from Rural/Metro, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management and Winterhaven fire departments, were already on site for the show, but other units were called to the scene to help fight the fire.

Firefighters were able to control the blaze and by 10:50 the fire was close to being contained.

According to Barrett DeFay, marketing director for Paradise Casino, the fire never threatend the casino or any of the other structures in the area.

"The crews were already on site and prepared," DeFay said. "At this point we are thankful that no structures are endangered and hoping the situation remains that way."

The fire continued burning as the fireworks company finished the show. Fire crews had water on the blaze minutes after it started.

FPOA has put on the fireworks show at the casino for six years.