No fireworks allowed at North Dam this July 4

Fire safety stressed at Grand Coulee council meeting

 

Last updated 6/26/2019 at 10:36am



Citing a dry landscape, federal officials this week put a halt to what has become something of a tradition in recent years at North Dam, where local families have set off fireworks on Independence Day.

The Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation issued a fire restrictions order on public lands where BLM fights wildfires, which includes North Dam, according to a June 19 press release from BLM.

A release from Reclamation Monday afternoon clarified that that includes the top of North Dam.

“Dry, fire-prone vegetative conditions in eastern Washington have warranted this decision,” the June 24, release states.

“Safety is our primary concern, and due to extremely dry conditions, we will prohibit the use of fireworks at North Dam,” said Power Manager Coleman Smith. “Reclamation will allow the permitted fireworks display at Grand Coulee Dam to continue at the top of the dam for the Fourth of July festivities and encourages you to come and enjoy the show.”

Smith cited a low risk of fireworks reaching the surrounding lands as a reason for allowing the professional fireworks display to proceed.

“There have been multiple wildfires in eastern Washington this season,” the USBR release continues. “These conditions prompted the Bureau of Land Management to issue the fire restrictions order.”

“Due to fire hazard risk, the public is asked not to bring fireworks or exploding targets onto public lands at any time,” BLM said in its release last week. “Caution is advised at all times when operating motor vehicles on roads or trails with vegetation or high grasses.”

Rick Paris, fire chief for the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, stressed safety when he addressed the city council during his department report June 18.

“Fire season, unfortunately, happens during fireworks season in America,” Paris said. “We’re getting ready for a dry summer.”

Councilmember Tammara Byers expressed her concern, as well, saying that living in Grand Coulee above the dry hillsides of Rattlesnake Canyon above Crescent Lake makes her nervous.

“It’s just so dry, and it terrifies me every year,” she said, asking for extra patrols around the city on the Fourth.

Police Sgt. Gary Moore said officers would be patrolling the city, making sure people weren’t lighting off fireworks.

That task may be made more urgent by the federal decision against fireworks at North Dam.

Believing it the safest, most easily controlled location in the city, the city council passed an ordinance making North Dam the only place in Grand Coulee where fireworks are legal.

But this year, fireworks won’t be allowed at North Dam either.

Gary Norris, who owns H&H Grocery in Electric City and sells fireworks there, doesn’t like the decision.

“It’s a shame,” Norris said. “It’s typical for the bureau; they’re not thinking about the people of this area or businesses.”

Norris also feels that not allowing fireworks at North Dam will push people to go further away from town where it’s more dangerous.

“They’re going to get [fireworks],” he said. “We always sent them to North Dam because we didn’t want them near our house.”

“The worry is people setting them off in unsafe areas, dry grass, in high winds and not being prepared with buckets of water to soak used fireworks,” Chief Paris said in an email to The Star, “and they need to clean up fireworks debris.”

A fire on June 15 burned between two and three acres near North Dam during a licensed fireworks show put on by the Northwest Pyrotechnics Association.

Four fire trucks, a fire marshall, and several personnel were on standby for that event for such an instance.

“The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department members would like to remind everyone to be safe and only shoot off state-legal fireworks in safe areas following the laws of the state or local ordinances,” Paris said. “Position fireworks so they won’t land on or near homes or buildings. Fireworks should only be lit by adults; others should be kept a safe distance away. Every year, there are many injuries and scores of wildland fires caused by fireworks. If and when people decide to use fireworks, they need to take the safest measures possible to make sure they don’t start a wildfire or structure fire.”

“We would hope everyone would just go on down and enjoy the fireworks show off the top of the Dam on July 4th.”

More fire danger than you might think

The Bureau of Land Management last week warned that in such dry conditions, even target shooting can cause fires.

“Target shooters who start wildfires may be responsible for the cost of fire suppression,” BLM said in a press release. “Wildfires caused by recreational target shooting in dry grasses have steadily increased on the Spokane District over the last few years. The easiest ways to prevent these fires from starting is to ensure your target area (at least 20 feet around the target) is free of dry vegetation, minimize the use of ammunition containing steel and avoid shooting under hot, dry and windy conditions.”

According to the National Park Service, “nearly 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. Human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, equipment use and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes, and intentional acts of arson.”

The state Department of Natural Resources website shows the Coulee area to be ranked moderate to high on the fire-danger scale.

Fire Prevention Forester Guy Gifford of DNR’s Northeast Region said people often don’t realize that fireworks are prohibited in all forest environments, regardless of who owns the property, and that causing a fire due to negligence can make them liable for the cost of fighting the fire.

“We highly encourage people to go to public displays of fireworks,” Gifford said, discouraging personal use.

Gifford also said it’s important for people to check with campground managers before having a campfire, because the rules can change from day to day, depending on conditions.

He also noted that people shouldn’t drive or park on areas with dry grasses because the hot parts under the car can cause fires.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

Bob VALEN writes:

Odd, that the Father's Day fireworks was permitted on North Dam. Are the decision making folks using the same considerations then that they are now sharing? We live in a dry environment, that hasn't changed for centuries. Common, fire wise sense should prevail - always.

 
 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/09/2024 11:26