Six firework related fires addressed over holiday weekend

Wyo4News Staff, [email protected] [PRESS RELEASE]

SWEETWATER COUNTY, WYOMING (July 6, 2021) — The following message was released from Scott Kitchner, Fire Chief for Sweetwater County Fire District #1:

“Fire units of the Joint Fire Command Task Force responded to 6 fireworks related fires on the 4^th of July. All these fires burned on private lands in the areas of North of Rock Springs, Hwy 191 North, and on Purple Sage Rd., no homes, or other structures we threatened from the fires.

All the fires that were reported were small and firefighters were able to get control of them quickly with no problems. We experienced a relatively mild 4^th of July as compared to previous years. I’d like to thank the public for taking our messages to heart about fireworks and the high fire danger. The lack of fires showed that they took our messages serious, and we appreciate that very much.    

 

These fire calls only represent the fireworks related calls that firefighters respond to on the 4^th and does not include all the other emergencies that we dealt with over the holiday weekend. When you add in vehicle accidents, medical calls, and other calls for service it can make for a busy holiday weekend on our resources. 

I would like to thank all the local responding agencies that shared resources with us to keep our community safe. It is cooperation like this that aids us all in our time of need. The Joint Fire Command Task Force is comprised of fire units from Sweetwater County Fire District #1, Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs Fire Dept and the Sweetwater County Fire Department. The task force utilizes a joint unified command comprised of leaders from the various agencies. The task force was formed 4 years ago as an effort to share resources to help mitigate the overwhelming amounts of emergency calls that happen on the evening of the 4^th of July.   

Sweetwater County Fire District #1 Fire Chief Scott Kitchner would like to remind citizens that we still have extremely dry conditions in southwest Wyoming and urges them to use caution when out enjoying the outdoors.”