News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters fire officials aren't going to throw a wet blanket on the Fourth of July tradition of setting off fireworks, but they urge those who do to be careful.
Though local merchants don't sell them, State of Oregon-approved fireworks are legal inside the Sisters city limits and on some private lands in the state forest.
"We allow them to bring in legal, smoke-producing fireworks," said Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Chief Don Mouser. "We just try to get them to keep a bucket of water or a hose handy and watch their kids pretty carefully."
Sisters' state forest supervisor Wayne Rowe concurred, stressing that children should be closely supervised and fireworks should be kept on lawns and driveways and away from brushy areas.
Rowe also recommended checking the area the day after to make sure nothing smolders.
But there are large areas around Sisters where fireworks are not allowed.
"Fireworks are prohibited on National Forest lands," Mark Rapp of the Sisters Ranger District said. "That includes campgrounds."
The danger of fire in the Sisters country should be obvious.
"I know it takes place because we've had some fires in the past that were caused by fireworks," Rapp said.
He noted that Forest Service law enforcement would be out through the forest to check up on fireworks violations.
Local subdivisions like Tollgate, concerned about fire danger, absolutely forbid fireworks at any time. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District will investigate fireworks use in subdivisions where they are prohibited.
But that leaves plenty of spots to enjoy the bangs and pops of Fourth of July, and Fire Chief Mouser doesn't foresee much of a problem.
"I think we're going to be all right," he said. "Most of the people who live here all the time or who vacation here are real good about it. They're conscious of what could happen if they don't pay attention."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)