RSSAll quiet on the fireworks front
County's firefighters say this 4th of July was one of slowest everYakima Herald-Republic
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Education, enforcement, weather or the economy -- whatever the reason, the Fourth of July weekend was pretty mellow for firefighters and police officers across Yakima County.
"It will go down as one of our quietest Fourth of Julys," said Deputy Chief Kevin Frazier of Yakima County Fire District 5, which covers much of the Lower Valley.
Yakima County sheriff's deputies, who led a project to clamp down on fireworks problems along the northern border of Ahtanum Ridge west of Union Gap, said they had very few problems.
The area had earned a reputation as a "war zone" since the county banned fireworks in unincorporated areas in the mid-1990s. Yakama tribal members still sell fireworks at several stands between 16th and 62nd avenues, and nontribal members previously had set off their purchases on both private and tribal land within the reservation.
Sheriff's officials had said they weren't going to pursue cases on tribally owned land.
Sgt. Bob Udell, who oversaw the emphasis patrol for the sheriff's office, said "war zone" residents were glad to see the extra enforcement.
Deputies issued about a dozen fireworks tickets across the county, plus written warnings. The sheriff's office received nearly 70 calls about fireworks between Friday and Monday afternoon.
Fire activity was equally light, due in part to showers that fell early in the day on July 4.
Firefighters in the Lower Valley handled a 15-acre blaze near Wapato that was started Thursday evening by children playing with fireworks.
On Friday evening, a suspicious fire singed about 200 acres between Harrah and White Swan. Chief Frazier said it appeared to have been set in several places, but no suspects had been identified.
A few smaller fires were reported across the county.
Udell and others said a mix of reasons probably contributed to the decline in troublesome activity. The fireworks-related education and enforcement helped; gas prices and other economic concerns may have pushed down interest in pryotechnic purchases or travel.
Udell said he was pleased with the outcome this year and expecting even better results for next year.
"I know there are bigger issues, but it's one where we can have an effect on, so it's kind of nice to win one every once in a while," Udell said.
State troopers, including several on overtime, arrested 11 drunk-driving suspects from Thursday through Sunday, Lt. Jim Keightley said. A Toppenish man died in a one-car crash near White Swan; troopers suspect alcohol was involved in that case.
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