Newsbriefs

GC fire

department

busy

Grand Coulee volunteer fire Chief Richard Paris reported to the city council last week that the fire department responded to eight calls in May, two of them structure fires. He said ambulance calls totaled 35, six in the Coulee Dam area and 21 in the Grand Coulee area, plus eight transports. Paris also stated that 16 of 21 people had completed an emergency medical technician training course, with three having a few things to finish. The online classes were held at the fire hall.

The flu

is over

Grant County Health officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny stated last week that the flu season is officially over. He said the Health District had handled 652 positive influenza lab reports, including four related deaths. There have been no reports of flu cases in the past four weeks.

Paperbacks

for sale

All uncatalogued paperbacks have been removed from the Grand Coulee Library and will be offered for sale on the sidewalk outside on Saturday, June 27, with proceeds going to the library’s Summer Reading Program. The sale begins at 7:30 a.m. and goes to noon.

So … be more careful

There were 432 fireworks-related injuries and fires reported to the State Fire Marshal’s Office by fire departments and hospitals in 2014. The majority of these incidents occur on July 4, with demographic trends indicating that the highest number of injuries were sustained by males 36 years old and older.

Some 155 fires resulted in $320,240 in damage and property loss, half on residential property. And illegal devices caused 66 injuries.

Eight sparkler bombs caused six multiple trauma injuries and two fires. They are considered improvised explosive devices, which are illegal to manufacture and possess. Injuries from such devices included metal puncture wounds, burns, tearing of the hands, and trauma to the face, chest and legs.