Dallas recorded a decline in emergency service calls during the Fourth of July weekend, with the Dallas Police Department noting fewer incidents of random gunfire compared to the previous year. The department processed 18,654 911 calls between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday. This figure represents a reduction from the nearly 22,000 calls received during the same period last year.
Police responded to 125 calls involving random gunfire, a slight decrease from prior years. Additionally, officers handled 297 reports related to fireworks. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux stated that the drop in gunfire calls reflects the impact of consistent messaging regarding the dangers and illegality of celebratory shooting. He credited the decrease to increased traffic enforcement and a visible police presence throughout the holiday.
Fire and medical services also saw significant activity. Dallas Fire Rescue attended 149 grass, brush, trash, or dumpster fires, along with 12 structure fires between 8 p.m. July 4 and 4 a.m. July 5. The department also responded to three heat-related emergencies.
Other North Texas jurisdictions reported similar trends. The Irving Police Department received over 1,570 calls for service, including 34 fireworks-related incidents. The Arlington Fire Department reported more than 30 grass fires and several dumpster fires. Denton Fire Department handled approximately 188 fireworks calls, while Denton County Emergency Services Districts Nos. 1 and 2 responded to 32 emergencies, including nine fires and two heat-related cases.
