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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009 Jetty Island firefight continues; hot weather increases fire dangers By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer EVERETT -- Beach goers aren't the only ones enjoying the summer sunshine on Jetty Island today. Three Everett firefighters trained to battle forest fires continued to work at extinguishing a blaze that erupted on the northwest end of the jetty Wednesday, officials said. The smoky fire was first reported about 3 p.m. Wednesday on the first day of free ferry service to the island, Everett city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. Nearly 1,000 people enjoyed the beach and water undisturbed by the fire burning on the island's far end, she said. Ferry service today is expected to continue without interruption. "Things are still running like we normally would," Reardon said. Battling the fire Wednesday posed unusual challenges for the fire department. Everett's police department and parks and recreation teams helped ferry firefighters to the island, Reardon said. They used shovels, buckets and portable pumps to attack the fire. Before sunset, the Snohomish County sheriff's department used its helicopter to scoop fresh water from the Snohomish River and dump it on the blaze. The Port of Everett also provided resources. Crews left the island before dark. On Wednesday, crews focused on cutting a fire break, a line around the fire, to prevent it from spreading. Today's goal is to douse the fire entirely. Investigators haven't been able to determine what sparked the Jetty Island blaze, the first big fire on the island in more than eight years. Elsewhere in the county Wednesday, crews rushed to several brush fires, many sparked by fireworks. The National Weather Service in Seattle is warning of increasing fire danger as hot and unusually dry weather settles over the region. "Humidity will continue to be abnormally low," a weather service report said. Fire officials are warning people to use extra caution when enjoying traditional July 4 holiday activities including backyard barbecues and festive fireworks. "Use your common sense in what you're doing," Reardon said. It's safest to enjoy professional fireworks displays, she said. Mike Makela, a fire investigator with the Snohomish County Fire Marshal's office, said his advice for avoiding brush fires was simple. "Don't shoot off fireworks," he said READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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