Staying safe
Police urge residents to use caution during holiday weekend

By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Friday, July 3, 2009 10:25 AM PDT

Erika Crans (right, back) and Katie Cox ring up fireworks Tiffany Perez (back, left) is purchasing for her children to celebrate her son’s birthday this weekend at the fireworks stand in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Public safety officials caution residents to be careful this Fourth of July weekend when using fireworks and enjoying other weekend activities.

ONTARIO — Public safety officials said they expect a busy July 4 holiday weekend and ask that residents take a number of precautions to ensure the next couple of days are safe and fun for everybody.

Both Ontario Police Department and Malheur County Sheriff’s Office officials said this holiday weekend will be especially busy because of the number of activities going on in the area, from the Vale Fourth of July Rodeo and fireworks event to the motor cycle rally in Ontario. And because Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year, officials expect even more people to be out and about.

“The big holiday for the start of the summer for us is the Fourth of July,” Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said, adding a lot of people will take to the waterways, go camping, attend July 4 events or the rodeo, which has a lot of activity associated with that in Vale.

As a result, extra deputies will be working this weekend, he said.

Bentz said, on a weekend like this, with a lot of people outdoors, area residents should remember to take basic precautions, such as making sure recreational equipment is in good shape before taking it out and remembering to plan for the heat and the sun by bringing extra water to drink.

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“The sun is not your friend,” Bentz said, adding dehydration and over-exertion can lead to illness, especially in people who already have health problems or to people who have been consuming alcohol.

He said people don’t pay attention to how hydrated they are, especially when they have been consuming alcohol, and that can be dangerous.

“Alcohol does not hydrate people. It dehydrates you,” Bentz said, adding a reminder that water sports and alcohol don’t mix well either.

Both Malheur County and Ontario law enforcement will be paying special attention to various unsafe or illegal activities this weekend and citing for illegal fireworks also.

Bentz said, the easy rule to remember in Oregon regarding fireworks is: “If it’s fun, it’s illegal,” adding that is sad to say but true.

“If it just lays on the ground and smokes a little bit, it’s probably legal,” he said.

Ontario Fire & Rescue Chief Al Higinbotham reiterated that point by stating, stationary fireworks that smoke or emit sparklers are OK, with proper usage, but others should be considered suspect.

“If there’s a projectile that leaves the ground, then they’re illegal,” he said.

Oregon is more restrictive than Idaho in the types of fireworks permitted, and Higinbotham said illegal fireworks brought across the border are common. Fireworks, illegal or not, bring their own hazards, including fires.

According to the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, there were 188 reported fireworks-related fires in the state last year, and adults were involved in more than 75 percent of those fires.

“We usually get a number of grass fires or whatever,” Higinbotham said, adding OF&R has already responded to other small fires already in April, May and June.

“So it has the potential of really taking off and running,” he said. “We thought with the cooler rains and the weather they’d lay down, but actually they’ve burned quite well.”

Higinbotham said if children are going to use fireworks an  adult should supervise and the area should be cleared of combustible items, grass and shrubbery. Higinbotham recommends they be set in gravel driveways or on paved streets and have water readily available in case of a fire.

“One thing (people) need to remember: If they cause damage to adjoining property, they are liable for the damages, and they are liable for the suppression costs,” Higinbotham said, adding all fireworks are prohibited from being set on Bureau of Land Management land. Fireworks such as bottle rockets, Roman Candles and firecrackers are among those that are illegal.

Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said another danger from fireworks each year is pets, specifically dogs, going missing.

“We commonly have reports of found dogs and missing dogs due to fireworks,” he said.

Alexander said some of the animals wind up at Atherton Kennels, but people with missing pets after the fireworks can also call OPD to see if they’ve been found.

He suggests, however, residents be aware that the noise from fireworks being set off may cause pets to flee and take proactive steps to keep that from happening, such as keeping dogs carefully confined during the July 4 festivities.