EVERETT — Last year was the busiest Fourth of July for 911 calls in Snohomish County history.
Firefighters are hoping the rain predicted for this weekend will help prevent any stray sparks from turning into blazes, said Heather Chadwick, a spokeswoman for the Monroe and Clearview fire districts. Homeowners, and anyone planning to set off fireworks, need to take precautions to keep themselves safe and ward off fires.
The Monroe and Clearview fire districts have added extra staffing and rigs for the holiday, Chadwick said. That includes certain kinds of fire trucks that are especially equipped to handle brush fires.
Last year was especially worrisome because of the dry spell. This year looks better, but there are still concerns, especially if there’s any wind, Chadwick said.
“Over the last couple of days, we’ve already gotten reports of brush fires,” she said. “So things are still dry even with the rain hopefully coming.”
Personal fireworks are banned in many Snohomish County cities, and this is the last year they’ll be legal in Marysville and Brier. Many cities recommend attending a public show versus setting off fireworks at home. If people do expect to use legal fireworks, they should let their neighbors know and make a safety plan, Chadwick said.
That means having a bucket of water at hand and choosing a concrete area free of flammables. That also means keeping the kids away. If people are committed to letting children use sparklers, at least thread the sparkler through a disposable cup to protect their hands, Chadwick said. That’s because sparklers can burn at more than 1,200 degrees, hot enough to melt glass.
Last year, dozens of injuries — and fires — were attributed to Fourth of July fireworks. Two people in Marysville lost fingers. Providence Regional Medical Center Everett treated 17 people, including children, for injuries that included eye problems, burns, and blast wounds to hands.
Gold Bar fire Lt. Scott Coulson used to love fireworks. Years of being at work, both in Gold Bar and at wildfires in Eastern Washington, and seeing homes burn down has changed that, he said. The potential for damage outweighs the fun, he said.
“The people whose home burns down are not usually the ones lighting the fireworks,” he said.
The two primary 911 centers in Snohomish County also are reminding folks about the new non-emergency numbers, which can be used to lodge fireworks-related complaints when no one is injured and nothing is burning. Together, the hotlines are seeing about 200 calls a day.
The hotlines are answered by dispatchers between emergency calls. They should not be used as an information line, said Kurt Mills, the director of the SNOPAC 911 center in Everett. For example, someone recently called and asked for the operating hours of a highway weigh station, he said.
“The non-emergency line is specifically when people need a non-emergency response from police and fire,” he said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
Fireworks rules
Local rules for discharging legal fireworks:
Arlington: July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight.
Bothell: July 4, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Brier: July 4, 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Darrington: July 4, 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Edmonds: Banned.
Everett: Banned.
Gold Bar: Banned.
Granite Falls: July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight
Lake Stevens: July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight.
Lynnwood: Banned.
Marysville: July 4, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Mill Creek: Banned.
Monroe: July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight.
Mountlake Terrace: Banned.
Mukilteo: Banned.
Snohomish: No restrictions other than state law.
Stanwood: No restrictions other than state law.
Sultan: No restrictions other than state law.
Unincorporated Snohomish County: July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight.
Woodway: Banned.
The non-emergency number is for situations when someone needs a police officer or a firefighter but there is no immediate threat to life or property. Any immediate threat should prompt a call to 911. The hotline is manned around the clock by dispatchers who will prioritize calls.
In southwest Snohomish County, dial 425-775-3000. In the rest of Snohomish County, including Everett and areas north and east of the city, dial 425-407-3999. If you’re not sure which 911 area you live in, go to gismaps.snoco.org/non-emergency. Consider programming the number into your smart phone.
If using fireworks:
Follow the instructions on the packaging.
Keep a water supply close.
Always wear eye protection.
Light one firework at a time.
Never attempt to relight a dud.
Keep fireworks away from children and pets. Keep pets indoors.
Point them away from people, animals, vehicles and homes.
Clean up the debris.
Sources: American Red Cross, Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office
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