A barn and six vehicles were destroyed in a fire this afternoon at 1620 Buena Vista Road.
The fire sent thick, black smoke billowing into the air while more than a dozen firefighters from the Hollister Fire Department, Cal Fire and the San Benito County Fire Department battled the blaze.
Bud Davidson, the home's owner, said he was in his living room taking a nap when he heard several fireworks exploding near his house. About 15 minutes after he heard the fireworks, he said he heard someone in his yard yelling, 'Bud, your yard is on fire!'"
Davidson's house survived the flames, but his barn - which he said was packed with "thousands of dollars worth of tools" - burnt to the ground along with his prized Mercedes Benz and five other cars and trucks.
Cal Fire Investigator Curt Itson could not confirm that fireworks had caused the flames but said he would be looking into the fire's cause as soon as possible.
"Fireworks are always a big problem. I mean, you can see how dry the grass is," he said, pointing to brown patches of weeds and grass all around the property. "We've been hearing that fireworks may have caused the fire and that's something we'll definitely look into."
Several neighbors also reported hearing fireworks shortly before the blaze, including Violeta Sanchez, who lives about a block away from the house.
"I heard fireworks, then I saw three kids like 13 or 14 years old, running away," Sanchez said. "One was real skinny and had on a black shirt and black pants."
Hollister Fire Chief Fred Cheshire was at the scene directing firefighters toward pockets of flames, which had sprung up all over the property. He said when firefighters first arrived, their focus was on protecting the surrounding houses. Then, once more fire engines had arrived, they fought the barn fire.
"I've talked to the neighbors lots of times about the fireworks, but they just keep doing it," Davidson said. "When I ask them to quit they just look at me like I'm funny."
Curtis Cartier Curtis Cartier covers the City of Hollister and public safety for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 or email him.
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