Firefighters ask for safety, caution over 4th

The Grand Coulee volunteer firefighters would like to remind everyone to be careful during the upcoming July 4th holiday and to be careful all summer during outside activities.

Local firefighters are not alone in their concern. Agencies responsible for fighting fires statewide are issuing pleas for safety and advising people take in public displays instead of lighting off their own fireworks.

"In 2023, fire incidents from fireworks resulted in more than $12 million of property damage in Washington state," the state Fire Marshal's Office said in a release. "Children under 15 made up 22.7% of reported fireworks injures.

"When possible, it is best to choose to view fireworks at a public display," they said.

In Grant County, sheriff's deputies have been issuing tickets for reckless burning to people who ignore a countywide burn ban. A Soap Lake man got one June 23, the second issued since June 1.

On that date "a Moses Lake area man received a ticket after causing a fire that burned several acres and threatened several homes in the McConihe area," a sheriff's Facebook post notes. Second-degree reckless burning is a gross misdemeanor and can have a maximum sentence of up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

Locally, "the weather has been good and bad lately," Grand Coulee firefighters noted. "We had a good spring with great grass-growing weather. We have a lot of grass and other vegetation that has grown well. Now it is drying out and is ready to burn, especially on warm windy days."

"We hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy the holiday and the summer ahead of us," the firefighter release wrote in their release. "We just want to remind everyone to be careful with barbecues and other activities that can cause sparks, for example weed whacking and mowing. It doesn't take much to start a fire."

Also, they reminded people that fireworks are fun to watch and enjoy but easily start fires. "Please be aware of the regulations where you are," they said.

Within the city limits of Grand Coulee consumer fireworks are not permitted in July, only on December 31.

Grant and Okanogan counties both have burning restrictions in effect annually. Grant County's starts June 1; Okanogan County's starts June 15.

The Bureau of Reclamation will close Marina Way Road over the holiday due to concerns about fire starts but will allow the public display off the top of Grand Coulee Dam because it's far enough away from dry vegetation, and it can lessen the incidence of private fireworks that could cause damage.

Elmer City last month passed a burn restriction ordinance to align with Okanogan County's and the Colville Tribes'.

And the Tribes on June 28 declared the entire reservation to be in a Fire Danger "High" Zone, restricting some logging activities and allowing them only between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Fireworks are restricted on the reservation to four specific sites: the boat launches at Buffalo Lake and Keller, Inchelium's Round Lake, and Omak's Eastside Park, and only on July 4 from noon to midnight.

Locally, only Electric City allows fireworks.

"With the current conditions around our area, it is a lot better and safer to enjoy the public fireworks displays," Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire's release said.

They noted there have been a lot of wildland fires already around North Central Washington this year and they appreciate everyone's efforts to prevent them in this area.

As they wrote the release June 27, there was a 100-acre fire burning just northwest of Moses Lake with evacuations in effect.

"We wish everyone a Happy and safe 4th of July," they said.