Keep the sun tan lotion and the garden hose handy this weekend, especially on the Fourth of July.
The National Weather Service predicted earlier this week that the sunny, dry weather will continue until July 4.
Hot, dry weather means a greater chance of brush fires, especially when fireworks are discharged on July 4.
There is, of course, no guarantee the sunshine will stay, said forecast meteorologist Doug McDonnal.
“It looks like July 4 will be nice,” Donnal said. “We are in a fair weather pattern. There is a probably slightly higher chance than typical (of) fire danger, especially in the grasses that are starting to brown up.”
Firefighters are getting ready for the dry weather and hope residents do the same.
“If it stays hot and dry through July 4, brush fires will be a major concern for us as fireworks use increases,” said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Fire District 1. “We advise people to go see a professional show and forgo lighting them at home because of the risk of fire and injuries. When it has been dry in years past, we have had lots and lots of brush fires and sometimes they spread to buildings.”
Police officers are already responding to complaints about illegal fireworks. On June 21, Mountlake Terrace Police responded to a report about illegal fireworks and found the remains of two homemade sparkler bombs outside of a Mountlake Terrace hair salon.
On July 4, discharging fireworks is allowed from 9 a.m. to midnight in Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, unincorporated Snohomish County and unincorporated King County.
The Mountlake Terrace ban on fireworks will begin in 2007.
The sale, possession and use of fireworks is banned in Edmonds, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Seattle, Shoreline and Woodway. Violators can be fined up to $1,000 or serve up to 90 days in jail depending on which city the offense occurred in.
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