The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to 228 incidents and fought 68 fires in a single 17-hour stretch on Independence Day, according to data the district published Friday, July 11.

Con Fire's dispatch center answered 498 phone calls between 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, and 3 a.m. Sunday, July 5. That works out to roughly one call every two minutes.

Of the 228 incidents, 127 were emergency medical calls. The 68 fires broke down as follows: 45 exterior fires, 12 vegetation fires, three structure fires, and eight classified by the district as "fire-other" (a category the district did not define). Another 33 calls fell into miscellaneous categories.

The district covers Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and surrounding unincorporated areas in central Contra Costa County.

Three structure fires occurred during the 17-hour window. The district did not release addresses or damage estimates for those incidents.

Fire season context

The July 4 response came as the district prepares for a busy fire season. On Tuesday, July 7, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved a $1 million contract with PG&E for aerial firefighting helicopter services during the 2026 season, at no cost to the district. In June, the board added 15 firefighter recruit positions and two battalion chief slots to the district's roster.

Fireworks remain illegal

All fireworks are illegal throughout Contra Costa County. The county urged residents to leave fireworks to professionals.

Residents who witness illegal fireworks can call 1-833-885-2021. The county also urges residents to register for emergency alerts through the Contra Costa Community Warning System at cococws.us.