At least 100 fires, several injuries caused by illegal fireworks on July 4 in Contra Costa Co.

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- In the East Bay, it was a busy Fourth of July holiday for firefighters and a scary one for homeowners, after illegal fireworks sparked dozens of fires across Contra Costa County and beyond, leaving some injured. Neighbors say the use of illegal fireworks is out of control.

July 4 was a terrifying holiday for John Munoz and his family on Palomar Drive in Antioch, after a fire raced up a hill behind their house. Cell phone video clips documented the tense moments.

"I started telling everybody evacuate all the kids and stuff," Munoz said.

Including the family's seven dogs, Munoz and his buddies stayed to fight the fire, which he says was started by illegal fireworks.

"We probably fought the fire for 10 minutes before the fire department came. I truly believe if we didn't do whatever we could, the house would've caught on fire," Munoz said.

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"Embers were at least 100 feet in the air. It looked like it was blowing that way," said Antioch neighbor Chris Dodge.

Dodge said firefighters acted quickly, despite all the fireworks being lit around them.

"While they're putting the fire out, there's idiots setting stuff off down there, while it's burning. It's out of control. I don't know what they're going to do about this," Dodge said.

"Looks like we had over 100 responses dispatched due to fire activity," said Contra Costa County Assistant Fire Chief Chris Ciotola.

Contra Costa County Fire says that number is lower than previous years, but most of the fires were due to illegal fireworks. This year, weather conditions worked in their favor.

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Skies over Antioch were filled with rogue firework displays on the Fourth. Neighbors say it went on for hours.

One of them turned chaotic on Linden Way and Spanos Street, when mortars exploded, sending at least five people to the hospital.

The Antioch Police Department received multiple calls at about 12:18 a.m. about an explosion in the 2200 block of Spanos Street.

"We had some major injuries due to confirmed illegal fireworks. I don't know how the incident occurred but five people were transported to various hospitals -- three with significant injuries," Ciotola said.

Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and EMTs from American Medical Response also provided medical assistance. Several other injured victims had left the scene and showed up to the hospital on their own.

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Crime scene investigators from the Antioch Police Department's Investigations Bureau and its Violent Crimes Unit are investigating. Police are trying to find and speak to anyone who was present at the time.

A midnight sideshow near Highway 4 and Franklin Canyon Road led to a grassfire. Fireworks were set off, while cars burned rubber and a crowd looked on.

The fire department says no arrests from any of the incidents so far.

Munoz says fire is no way to celebrate independence.

"It's a little unfortunate. At the end of the day, I thank God everybody's safe, nobody's house caught on fire," Munoz said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact APD Detective Shaffer at (925) 481-8604 or email cshaffer@antiochca.gov.

Bay City News contributed to this report.