| Ordinance No. 2876 Prohibits the use of fireworks
within the City of Ashland during any declared fire season, except when the
sale of fireworks is permitted within the State of Oregon. (June 23 through
July 6) Following is a listing of fireworks-related fires that occurred during
the permitted use period:
Date Location Type Of Fire Fire Cause
6/23/2003 1290 Ashland Street Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2003 A St Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2003 570 Clover Lane Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2003 364 Walker Avenue Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2003 364 Walker Avenue Trash Dumpster Fireworks
7/04/2003 75 West Nevada Street Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2003 201 S Mountain Ave. Vegetation Fireworks
7/05/2003 201 S Mountain Ave. Vegetation Fireworks
7/05/2003 Glenn Street / RR Tracks Vegetation Fireworks
7/05/2003 60 Shamrock Lane Vegetation Fireworks
7/07/2003 138 North Main Street Structure Fire Fireworks
For comparison purposes, following is a listing of fireworks-related
fires for the same time period during 2002:
Date Location Type Of Fire Fire Cause
7/04/2002 305 Wimer Street Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2002 201 South Mountain Ave. Vegetation Fireworks
7/04/2002 320 Beach Street Vegetation Fireworks
The fire department was staffed with 20 firefighters and three chief
officers on duty for the July 4th holiday.
Department personnel staffed the public aerial display at SOU, to
ensure safety for the general public. Following the aerial display, department
members canvassed the impact area to collect any live rounds that may have
misfired during launching.
Problems encountered by department staff included public use of fireworks
in areas of dry vegetation and/or in close proximity to buildings, and the
launching of 4 inch aerial shells in residential areas. Two of the
fireworks-related fires posed a serious threat to buildings. The grass fire
which burned at 570 Clover Lane burned within 10 feet of occupied homes on
Spring Creek Drive before being brought under control by the fire department.
The 120 year-old home located at 138 North Main Street was damaged as a result
of fireworks use next to the building, which allowed fire to burn into the
exterior wall which was filled with sawdust insulation.
In addition to fire responses, a large amount of illegal fireworks
were confiscated by the fire department and turned over to the State Fire
Marshal's Office for disposal. |
