A hot topic

Yishan Chen | Argonaut Fire Chief Brian Nickerson said fireworks create concern in fire season because they can be uncontrollable, but they’re not the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department’s only concern this time of year.

Local fire safety, firework rules gain traction July 4

Mark Rauch’s father taught him to celebrate both the freedoms provided by Christianity and the freedoms provided by the devotion of fellow Americans when they lay down their lives for others.

Running a fireworks stand in front of Rosauers in Moscow is a fun way for him to help others celebrate their freedom as Americans. Rauch said he understands some fireworks may be dangerous, which is why he advocates use of “safe and sane” fireworks, common sense and responsible use.

Yishan Chen | Argonaut
Fire Chief Brian Nickerson said fireworks create concern in fire season because they can be uncontrollable, but they’re not the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department’s only concern this time of year.

Moscow Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Brian Nickerson, whose career extends over 26 years, said he hasn’t been in Moscow for a Fourth of July, but he’s learned from past experiences that improper use of fireworks is an issue that pervades the middle of summer — both from a fire and safety perspective.

The high heat and low humidity in Moscow creates much more suitable conditions for fire to start, he said.

Nickerson said with cutting in hay fields and potential issues with power poles and electricity, however, fireworks are not the only burden this fire season, which began early this year.

“Fireworks are a concern, but they’re not the only concern,” Nickerson said. “Fireworks are a concern because they’re uncontrollable to a degree, so it’s where they use them, how they use them that’s the concern.”

Nickerson said if people are unsafely using fireworks and breaking the “safe and sane” fireworks policy, the best way to protect against property damage is to call 911 and report the issue to the police department.

“Safe and sane” fireworks are sold within Moscow’s city limits at various vendors throughout the city, Moscow Police Department Lieutenant Paul Kwiatkowski said.

“They’re fireworks that stay on the ground, emit sparks — they’re not propelled into the air and explode,” Kwiatkowski said. “Anything that goes into the air, or anything that goes into the air and explodes is illegal in the city limits.”

Bottle rockets, Roman candles and mortars are examples of lit fireworks that are illegal, he said. Should police respond to an incident involving fireworks breaking “safe and sane” rules, the perpetrator may be cited with a misdemeanor.

Kwiatkowski said it is not illegal to own bottle rockets and other explosive devices in Moscow. The moment those are fired into the air is when the act becomes illegal.

Common sense is the guiding principle for firework use within the city limits, Kwiatkowski and Nickerson said.

Nickerson said over his career it’s typical for a fire department to receive three to five calls on July 4. The number of volunteers available to respond to calls will vary based on schedules.

He said based on volunteer availability, there can be anywhere from 60-100 volunteers on hand Saturday, but his department is calm, collected and not stressed.

“They’re all professional,” Nickerson said. “They’re well prepared. We have the equipment to mitigate any instance.”

The risk factor for fire doesn’t necessarily change this weekend for July 4, Nickerson said. Every weekend in a fire season is cause for concern.

He said Moscow is in a wildland-urban interface, which is a transition zone between unoccupied land and human development that is at risk of wildfire.

“The potential is there, (and) it only takes one spark,” Nickerson said.

Jake Smith can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @notjakesmith

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