Law enforcement, firefighters gear up for Fourth

Mailbox destroyed by explosives

GRANT COUNTY — "The noise complaints are starting," sighed Grant County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy John Turley from his office Thursday afternoon.

His department, and other law enforcement and firefighting agencies around the county, are gearing up for a long weekend leading up to the Fourth of July.

Turley expressed the need for cognizance this holiday weekend: of young children and of the dry, grassy areas that can quickly ignite by firework sparks.

"If a fire starts and you can be recognized for starting it, you can be charged with reckless burning, and, depending on the amount, you can be charged with a felony," Turley warned.

The Moses Lake Fire Department was also preparing for a busy weekend Thursday, starting with a preventative burn near Eastlake Drive in Moses Lake that morning. In past years, the area has caught on fire from wayward fireworks launched during the city display.

MLFD's Assistant Chief Tom Taylor reported no injuries and no firework-related fires in the city as of Thursday afternoon. He expected to have a full staff of paid, volunteer and even some off-duty firefighters working on Monday.

"We're going to have some (fires)," Taylor said. "It's pretty dry."

Fireworks can be discharged within the county from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. up through July 5. Grant County will allow the bright displays up until midnight on Independence Day itself. However, the areas of Marine View, Marine View Heights, Crescent Bar, Sunland Estates and Desert Aire have banned fireworks completely. Setting off the illuminating shells could cost a $100 ticket on first offense, Turley said.

One explosive incident has already been brought to the attention of the United States Postmaster after neighbors were awakened by a loud explosion in the 7600 block of Rainier Road in Cascade Valley Wednesday night. GCSO deputies arrived on scene to find that a tennis ball had been loaded with explosive material and then placed inside a mailbox. At this time, no witnesses reported seeing the crime in progress.

"That's a federal offense," Turley stated.

The GCSO will also be spread thin this weekend with two shows headlined by Widespread Panic on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Gorge Amphitheatre.

Although audience numbers are expected to be relatively low — 4,000 to 6,000 — Turley expected the concert to occupy six to seven of his deputies' time.