Errant fireworks blast leads to bush fire in front of WRAL reporter's home

A homegrown fireworks spectacle goes a little too far on the Fourth of July, prompting scares, near-misses and unfortunately, injuries.

One of those occurrences happened this year at the home of WRAL Fayetteville reporter Gilbert Baez in Vander, a small, unincorporated community in Cumberland County. What appeared to be a bottle rocket struck set off by a neighbor went into a bush at Baez's home and started a fire.

"It's a good thing I have crushed brick, and not pine straw, underneath my bushes," Baez said. "All of those plants could have caught fire and set the front of the house on fire."

The flames were captured on video by a security footage. Baez wasn't home at the time, but one of his daughters, along with her two children, were. They weren't the only ones spooked. Two other neighbors also had fireworks go near their home.

Flames rose up several feet in the air, a jarring vision.

Quick action by neighbors helped get the fire out before local fire crews arrived. There were no injuries and minimal damages.

Still, lessons were learned. Baez said a young man came to his home to apologize the next day.