.jpeg "A pine tree caught on fire after illegal fireworks were set off in downtown Fresno on Sunday, July 5, 2026.")
A pine tree caught on fire after illegal fireworks were set off in downtown Fresno on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
ANTHONY GALAVIZ
agalaviz@fresnobee.com
A tree and part of the Kepler Neighborhood School was burned in a fire in downtown Fresno on Sunday.
Two officers with the Fresno Police Department were en route to a disturbance call just after 10 p.m. when they saw two people setting off illegal fireworks that caught a pine tree on fire. Because of the wind, burning needles blew onto Kepler’s roof and caught fire.
The fire was located at Broadway and Stanislaus.
Fire crews responded and extinguished the fire, keeping the damage at Kepler to a minimum, according to Fresno Police Lt. Alfonso Castillo said.
Police are working with arson investigators to identify those responsible for the fires. The two people who officers saw lighting fireworks fled.
Anyone with information should call Fresno Police at 559-621-7000.
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A roof at Kepler School in downtown Fresno caught on fire after embers from a tree caught on fire because of illegal fireworks on Sunday, July 5, 2026. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 11:20 AM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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