July 4 fireworks stretched Tri-City firefighters thin with +180 calls
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- Southeast Communications Center logged 180 calls between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m.
- Pasco firefighters answered 107 fire and medical calls during the Fourth of July period.
- A Badger Canyon grass fire threatened three homes and took hours to get under control.
An estimated 5-acre fire that threatened three homes in Badger Canyon was one of dozens of blazes started by Fourth of July fireworks.
Firefighters across Benton and Franklin counties engaged in the annual tradition of trying to keep ahead of fires started by people using fireworks unsafely or using banned aerial fireworks.
Calls for fires came in 180 times in the seven hours between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the Southeast Communications Center. They aren’t able to say how many of those involved fireworks or how serious they were.
Pasco firefighters reported having 107 calls to respond to fire and medical issues. And West Richland’s Benton County Fire District 4, reported having 30 calls in the five hours between 7 p.m. and midnight — 5 times more than they would have in a normal day.
But the busy night stretched firefighters thin across the Tri-Cities, said Jenna Roberts, the Benton County Fire District 1 public information officer.
One of the most dramatic fires took place on Badger Road where Benton County Fire District 1 battled a grass fire that was pushed by the wind and threatened homes. It was first spotted in the 106000 block about 9:40 p.m.
Three homes needed to be evacuated. The property owner responsible for setting off aerial fireworks that started the fire was hurt trying to put it. They were treated at a local hospital.
It took about two hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control, the district said in a release.
The Tri-Cities saw two homes burn down in the late night and early morning hours following the Fourth of July. One on 2054 PR SE was not related to fireworks, another on the 5200 block of Jacksnipe Court in West Richland remains under investigation.
Fire conditions
Most areas of Benton and Franklin Counties do not allow fireworks that go into the air. The only exception is West Richland, which doesn’t ban any firework that is legal to use in the state.
The sparks from those fireworks were meeting prime conditions for fires.
Fire officials have said that a mild winter combined with a long stretch of dry and hot weather have created conditions where a fire could quickly spread. This fire season has already seen a number of large grass and brush fires.
While the conditions are bad for fires, Roberts said the bad conditions themselves don’t start blazes.
“The biggest factor in how many wildfires there were is directly related to how people are using fireworks,” Roberts said.
Education efforts
Officials across the Tri-Cities have worked on educating the public about using allowed fireworks safely. They worked through June and early July to share information about fireworks safety, when they could be used and responsible disposal.
“While fireworks regulations may vary slightly between jurisdictions, the regional campaign focuses on common messages that encourage residents to understand local rules, prioritize safety and be considerate of their neighbors and community,” according to a news release about the campaign.
Kennewick Fire Chief Michael Heffner said a deputy fire marshal worked with a police officer and contacted about 50 people or groups to talk about fireworks complaints. People seemed to be more aware of the rules around fireworks.
“The education campaign was well received and resonated with community members,” he said, adding it was successful in teaching people about the rules around fireworks.
“If that education impacted the number of fires we had, it’s too early to tell,” he said.