County and city have emergency meetings to tackle fireworks
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Both the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners and the Pendleton City Council have called special meetings tomorrow (Wednesday). One of the topics for both meetings is whether to ban fireworks due to the heat and other fire conditions.
The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners will consider banning fireworks in the county due to the enhanced fire danger brought on by the heat wave. Chairman George Murdock also issued a reminder that ATV travel is not allowed on county roads.
“Owners of property in the mountains are worried about an influx of ATV enthusiasts who might be endangering private property and the lives of cattle while destroying what little grass is there,” Murdock wrote.
Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan and Public Works Director Tom Fellows have been working with the commissioners to discuss options that include the possibility of road closures.
Sheriff’s deputies will be patrolling areas with the greatest potential for fire.
The meeting is at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday). It will be streamed on the county’s website.
The Pendleton City Council has called a special Zoom meeting for 5 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) as well. Billed as a community discussion, the council members will discuss whether to outlaw the use of fireworks. There is no public fireworks display on tap in Pendleton for July 4.
The council, like the county, is expressing concern over the increased fire danger, extreme temperatures, red flag warning, and winds that are in the forecast. The Zoom meeting ID is 864 4724 5257. The pass code is 107458.
