Fireworks and a fire chief

PENDLETON – The following is written by Pendleton Fire Chief Jim Critchley as he prepares for extreme heat, a red flag warning, and the Fourth of July weekend.

What worries a fire chief? In this case, this week worries your fire chief.

I remember professional fireworks shows– the beauty of the rockets’ red glare, the celebration of America, Apple pie, baseball. I remember traveling to other cities to see their Fourth of July fireworks; San Diego, Washington DC, Newport Beach. They were beautiful, inspiring, and awesome.

As a new father and a firefighter, I was the guy on the block that helped the families enjoy the day safely. We always ended the evening sitting on a roof, watching professional fireworks all around town.

Now, as a fire chief for the past decade, I see that the impact is more than the simple joy on a child’s face. It is also the thousands of injuries, the burns and loss of fingers. It is stress or trauma for some veterans, for members of the community with sensory challenges, and for pets. It is accidents that lead to the loss of a field, property, or even a home.

We watched last weekend as greater than 450 acres burned and closed I-84, along with endangering three family homes. We are passing through a week of record setting heat, during an epic drought. I pray every morning for the people of this community and their safety.

I will increase the staffing this weekend to cover the community because I know there will be a few that won’t heed my warning. We do not have any professional shows this year. My wish is we would all stay inside in a cool environment and watch the fireworks on our television this year. It is just too hot and too dry.

I hope you have a healthy safe week, and I will be here worrying about the worst and praying for the best.

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Elkhorn Media Group

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