Fire chiefs urge extreme caution with fireworks amid severe drought

UMATILLA COUNTY — As Independence Day approaches, local fire chiefs are urging residents to exercise extreme caution with fireworks amid severe drought and dangerously dry conditions in Eastern Oregon.

In a recent interview on KUMA’s Coffee Hour, Pendleton Fire & Ambulance Chief Tony Pierotti and Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 Chief Scott Stanton warned that a single stray spark can rapidly ignite fast-moving brush or structure fires, especially when pushed by the Columbia Basin’s notorious winds.

The chiefs emphasized the strict legal boundary under Oregon law: if a firework explodes, flies, or is uncontrollable, it is illegal.

“The unpredictability is really what causes the issues here,” Pierotti said, noting that even legal novelty fireworks pose significant risks if environmental conditions are dry or windy.

To mitigate fire hazards, Stanton advised residents to create defensible space by mowing dry grass during early morning hours and keeping green spaces around homes. He also stressed the importance of proper disposal.

“Have a bucket or a can full of water, and douse them down,” he said. “Leave them in there like 20 minutes before they’re put into a trash receptacle,” He also warned that improper disposal frequently causes garbage can and structure fires.

Beyond property damage, the holiday historically brings an influx of preventable calls and severe injuries, including hand trauma and eye injuries, which heavily strain limited rural emergency resources. Both chiefs strongly recommended that families leave the pyrotechnics to professionals and instead attend public displays across the region to ensure a safe celebration.

Listen to the full KUMA Coffee Hour interview about Fourth of July safety tips at  https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-hour-podcast/june-30-fourth-of-july-safety-tips

Photo from publicdomain.net

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