Officials urge caution with fireworks

Fires rage in "the combustible West." In Arizona and New Mexico, thousands of acres and hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

At least one of the New Mexico blazes was caused by teenagers playing with fireworks.

Closer to home, the Davis Lake fire southwest of La Pine is being called "human caused," though a specific cause has not been announced.

In the face of extreme fire danger, fire professionals are urging caution in the use of legal fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday.

Fireworks are banned in National Forests and in most rural subdivisions around Sisters. Residents and visitors should check with their homeowners' associations before using any fireworks.

Legally available fireworks are still legal in the City of Sisters, but acting Sisters Fire Chief Ken Enoch warns users to be extremely careful in their use.

"They need to do it in a green area (like a lawn), not in an area where there is a lot of dead debris."

Better still would be to use fireworks only on an asphalt or concrete slab.

"I would have an extinguisher, a bucket of water, a hose or a shovel," Enoch said.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

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.

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