Portland Fire & Rescue warns of a potential increase in fires caused by personal fireworks on the Fourth of July

Although the city of Portland passed a fireworks ban in March 2022, Portland Fire & Rescue is preparing for a potential increase in fires started by personal fireworks this Fourth of July. Reporting by Willamette Week found that although the number of fires caused by fireworks dipped during the year the ban was enacted, the number of fireworks-related fires increased by 33% in 2023 compared with 2022. The fire department continues to urge people to obey the ban and celebrate the holiday in alternative ways. Rick Graves, a firefighter and spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue, joins us to share more about the risks of using personal fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Note: This transcript was computer generated and edited by a volunteer.

Dave Miller: This is Think Out Loud on OPB. I’m Dave Miller. With July 4th one week away, we’re going to start today with fireworks. The city of Portland passed a fireworks ban in March of 2022. A few months later, there were only 10 fireworks related fires in Portland, well below their pre-ban levels. But according to Willamette Week, there were 46 such fires around July 4th last year. That was the highest number in at least five years. Rick Graves is a firefighter and the public information officer for Portland Fire and Rescue. He joins us now. Welcome back to the show.

Rick Graves: Thanks for having me.

Miller: I want to go back three years. Can you remind us what happened on July 4, 2021?

Graves: July 4, 2021, we had a significant fire in an apartment complex as a result of an improperly discarded firework into the dumpster that was alongside one of those structures. We lost three lives, a triple fatality fire as a result of an inappropriately discarded, what one would consider “safe and sane” firework.

Miller: That was one of the reasons that the city council banned fireworks in March of 2022. And a few months later, fires from fireworks, as I noted in my intro, were down almost 80% actually from just a few years before. At that point, did you think that this ban was going to work?

Graves: Well, we certainly were hopeful that the community would recognize the importance of the safety of themselves and those around them, that they would respect the fact that there was a ban put in place for the safety of our community. But it sure seemed last year, we took a turn in the other direction.

Miller: Right. What do you think happened?

Graves: I wish I knew. If I knew we could probably have a better idea at making a consistent change.

We, as Portland Fire and Rescue, put forth the thought of a ban to the city council at that time, knowing the dangers of fireworks. We had just gone through the Eagle Creek Fire, where we protected the Multnomah Falls Lodge. We know that that was started by a firework, and we know the dangers of fireworks as we talked about. I personally have been on personal fireworks that have blown up in the hands of community members, where they literally lost their hands. They are very dangerous, homemade, purchased at a safe and sane location. Fires are started, damage occurs to structures, damage occurs to our environment, happens every year. We’re hopeful that we can move forward as a community, as a city, have people enjoy themselves on Independence Day, have your barbecues, enjoy your neighbors and then find a professional show where you can really celebrate Independence Day of the United States.

Miller: When there are booms going around all over the city, going block by block as fire bureau, as police, it seems impossible. So how do you think about enforcement?

Graves: Enforcement is almost after the fact, for the most part, unfortunately. We will investigate any fire or damage injury that is associated with the firework through our Portland Fire and Portland Police combined fire investigations unit. And those people that elect to take a choice and thwart the ban, think it doesn’t apply to them, will be cited and possibly arrested and be held accountable for their actions.

Miller: The David Douglas Dad’s Club, which supports kids in the district, raises money for clubs and sports, put up a note on Instagram recently about a fireworks sale saying they have tons of inventory. It’s not uncommon for fireworks to be sold as fundraisers. What goes to your mind when you see things like this?

Graves: All organizations have their choice, the direction they want to try and supplement the funding to their organization. And if fireworks is what they do, that’s their choice. But we know that that’s actually unfortunately a very dangerous decision to make. And there are other mechanisms you can utilize for a fundraiser. That would be my suggestion, to find other mechanisms to supplement the funding that’s needed for the Dad’s Club and whatever they are aiding and supporting. David Douglas School District lies outside of the city of Portland, and so when they have their sales, they’re selling outside of the city. So hopefully the members that live within the city of Portland understand the importance of not going outside the city, making a purchase, bringing it back to the city and deciding to thwart the ban, and effectively act as a potential arsonist.

Miller: It’s my understanding that David Douglas is inside the city of Portland, but we can leave that geography for another day.

Your office has said that you don’t want people to flood the 911 system with reports of fireworks. So what do you want people to do if their neighbors are setting off fireworks?

Graves: If your neighbors are setting off fireworks, I would encourage you to have a communication with them face to face, recognize that there’s a ban and there’s a danger, and hopefully communicate successfully of the danger. If there is a fire or an injury that is the result of fireworks, certainly 911 has been the number to call, and the appropriate response will occur, whether it be a simple medical response or also a fire response.

Last year, just around midnight, we had a fire at the base of Rocky Butte as a result of fireworks. And the first responding rig arriving came from the west side of the river, a downtown company, squad one was burst in on a fire because all of the other fire rigs, engines, and stations were busy with other previously started fires as a result of fireworks. In order to have a safe community, we are extremely challenged as it is, without the addition of fireworks. Portland Fire and Rescue runs 150,000 calls a year. We’re constantly running. That’s without an extra added strain or stress on the system, which is effectively what fireworks do.

Miller: Rick Graves, thanks very much.

Graves: Thanks for having me.

Miller: Rick Graves is a firefighter and public information officer for Portland Fire and Rescue.

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