'One little spark' can spell disaster amid heat wave, July Fourth celebrations
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Firefighters have been putting out blazes all over the place the past few days as Fourth of July celebrations and a heatwave in the Portland area ramp up.
Things like fireworks and dangerously hot temperatures are obvious causes for out-of-control fires. However, firefighters want to warn the public about other summer activities that can ignite flames that are less obvious, such as mowing the lawn.
"The biggest dangers are just how dry things are. It just takes one little spark to get something really going," said Katia Minor, a firefighter with Portland Fire and Rescue.
Some recent examples of the increased risk this time of year can be found in the pallet fire that ignited in Northeast Portland on Thursday and a dumpster fire in Lake Oswego that ignited after fireworks were improperly disposed of, officials said.
"There's no reason to put 'em in your trash can right away. You want to make sure that they're completely cooled off, completely extinguished," said Minor, referring to firefighters' recommended procedure of submerging spent firecrackers in water for 24 hours prior to disposing of them in the garbage.
The dry conditions, along with a potential for more fireworks, has fire crews concerned. For that reason, Tualatin Valley Fire Divison Chief Cassandra Ulven said firefighters are taking extra precautions, especially since structure fires have a higher chance of spreading to vegetation very quickly when the temperatures are so high — forecasted to hit the triple digits over the weekend. The fire chief said they're increasing units to prepare for this.
"Firefighters are going to get fatigued faster," Ulven said. "So to protect their health and safety, we want to make sure that we have additional people, you know, to cycle through so that that reduces their risk of heat-related illness and injury."
It's not just fireworks that are a potential danger. Dragging tow chains, an unattended grill or even a lawn mower could create a spark.
"A blade hitting a stone can create a spark that can ignite a bushfire," Ulven said.
Minor added that people should try to be more aware of their surroundings "when you're doing those, you know, fun summer activities."
Portland fire said they have had their hands full with responding to calls about fires. Others in the region said it's been surprisingly calm and they hope that trend will continue.