Basin area fire departments see mixed July 4, regionally

MOSES LAKE — The July 4 holiday is traditionally celebrated with fireworks, and in summer conditions of the Columbia Basin, traditionally a time for fires. Some fire crews were answering calls all night, while others had little activity.  

“I’m just glad the Fourth is over this year. We made it through another one,” said Tom Salsbury, chief of Adams County Fire District 5.  

Grant County Fire District 5 had a very busy July 4, answering about 25 fire calls and three requests for mutual aid, just on Independence Day, said Allen Albee, GCFD 5 firefighter. 

According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, 271 fires were caused by fireworks statewide in 2024, along with 156 documented fireworks injuries.

Moses Lake Fire Department Assistant Chief Derek Beach said MLFD answered 10 outside fire calls that might’ve been caused by fireworks in the week from June 30 to July 6.  

“That’s maybe a little bump over the last couple of years,” Beach said. “There weren’t a ton of calls.” 

MLFD responded to four fire calls July 4, he said, and one each July 1, 2, 3 and 5.  

No county-wide information was available from the MACC dispatch center. Adams County Fire Marshal Andie Lorenz said the holiday weekend in Adams County was pretty much as anticipated. 

“We had a fair amount (of fire calls) in the Othello and Ritzville areas,” he said. “Kind of what we expected, given the dry weather.” 

Salsbury said ACFD 5 answered 10 fire calls in the period from July 3 to 6, six of them in the space of less than three hours July 4. 

“The majority on the Fourth were fireworks-related,” he said. 

In some cases, people neglected to clear a space around the fireworks zone and ignited dry grass, he said. Overall, it wasn’t much different from most July 4 holidays, he said. 

“I would say it was a little above normal,” Salsbury said.  

Grant County Fire District 3 answered about 15 fire calls over the period from July 3 to 6, but Yelena Volkov of GCFD 3 said the total was still uncertain, since at least one fire was reported twice.  

Two fires were reported in Grant County Fire District 8, Mattawa, said GCFD 8 executive assistant Brenda Nolasco. A wildland fire burned about two acres at the Buckshot public access area near Desert Aire, and a second was reported in Desert Aire. That was extinguished by bystanders by the time fire crews arrived, she said. 

The holiday was relatively quiet for Grant County Fire District 7, Soap Lake, with three fires reported that could’ve been caused by fireworks, said Emily Forest of GDFD 7. One fire earlier in the week is suspected of being caused by fireworks, and two on July 4 were fireworks-caused. 

“We actually got pretty lucky with our fire calls this weekend,” she said. 

Grant County Fire District 7 answered two fire calls near Ephrata and responded to one call for mutual aid, said Chief Jim Stucky.  

“Other than that, it was very quiet,” Stucky said. “We were fortunate.” 

Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns said two fires were reported, one at about 9 p.m. July 4 and a second at about 2 a.m. July 5. One burned less than an acre on Railroad Avenue near Peachtree Drive, he said, and the second was originally reported as a structure fire. It actually turned out to be shrubbery near a residence, he said, and neighbors were putting it out as fire crews got to the scene. 

About 18 ACFD 5 firefighters responded when the calls started coming in, and Salsbury said he appreciated their efforts.  

“Our volunteers did really well,” he said. “Good group of people.” 

    Almost as soon as fireworks began to be sold, fire departments started responding to fires likely set by them. This fire was taken care of by Grant County Fire District 13 around June 20 near the Desert Villa mobile home park.