Fires linked to fireworks quickly stopped in city

By Matthew Nash • July 10, 2024 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Firefighters extinguished a fire on West Hemlock Street late on July 5 that bystanders said was started by someone throwing a firework from a vehicle into the field.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Firefighters extinguished a fire on West Hemlock Street late on July 5 that bystanders said was started by someone throwing a firework from a vehicle into the field.

Four fires over the Fourth of July weekend were confirmed to be or possibly linked to fireworks in the City of Sequim, reports Clallam County Fire District 3 officials.

For the holiday, firefighters first responded to a half-acre brush fire on the 600 block of West Hendrickson Road around 3:09 p.m. on July 4.

Battalion Chief Stef Anderson said firefighters reported a nearby resident shot a Roman candle in the afternoon that started the fire by Olympic Ambulance’s Sequim headquarters.

Another fire inside a dumpster at Mountain View Court Apartments at 303 N. Fifth Ave., was reported shortly before midnight on July 4.

Anderson said a bystander reported the dumpster was smoldering, and firefighters quickly extinguished it and found used fireworks inside that could have led to the fire.

Early on July 5, emergency crews responded at 3:21 a.m. to a brush fire near the Sequim Avenue bypass that burned an approximate half-acre in a field south of the bypass, Anderson said.

The 9-1-1 caller said they thought they saw someone shooting fireworks near the bypass, she said.

A fourth fire caused an approximate 30-foot-by-40-foot brush fire on West Hemlock Street by the City of Sequim’s shop.

Anderson said a bystander heard and saw someone in a vehicle throw a firework out the window around 10:50 p.m. on July 5 that started the fire.

A bystander attempted to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher before firefighters responded and contained it, she said.

Sequim-area fire crews did not respond to any fires linked to firework-related calls in unincorporated Clallam County in the Sequim area.

The City of Sequim bans the discharge of any fireworks throughout the year. Clallam County only allows fireworks to be discharged east of the Elwha River on July 4 if no restrictions are in place due to fire conditions.

Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy with Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy gave a verbal warning to a citizen in Four Seasons Park by Morse Creek in Port Angeles on July 4 after receiving complaints about fireworks, but deputies did not have to take any enforcement on fireworks otherwise.

Anderson encourages residents to remember to only use legal fireworks and make sure any fireworks and matches are extinguished before discarding them.