Bend police, fire tally Fourth fireworks calls

Bend police officers and firefighters said Tuesday they responded to dozens of fireworks-related calls on the Fourth of July,

Bend police said they responded to 65 fireworks complaints — 54 of of those in a half-hour period, between 9:30 and 10 p.m., before the official fireworks display from the top of Pilot Butte.

Meanwhile, firefighters responded to 46 calls for service on Monday, including several fireworks calls and an increase in medical calls, said Battalion Chief Dave Howe. The department averages 27 calls a day.

Fire crews also responded to seven fireworks-related fires between July 1 and July 4, causing about $600 in property damage, Howe said.

“These are preventable fires,” Howe said, “and Bend Fire will continue to explore ways to address the use of illegal fireworks and reduce the associated risks.”

Meanwhile, the cause of a fire stopped at a half-acre Monday night on the north end of Lava Lake is still being investigated. Officials said Redmond Hotshots were on scene again Tuesday, conducting mop-up efforts. Like a recent fire at Cultus Lake, the fire was on the far side of Lava Lake, and firefighters were ferried by boat for best access.

Resort owner Joie Frazee said prevailing winds kept the fire pressed against the shoreline and she credited Forest Service crews with “a great job containing fully by hand line by the time pumps arrived.”

Central Oregon firefighters and law enforcement were kept busy Sunday and Monday responding to numerous fireworks-related complaints, including a fire at Scout Lake, west of Sisters, that was put out by other campers in the area, officials said.

The Scout Lake fire was reported around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch spokeswoman Lisa Clark said the small spot fire was put out by other campers, and those who lit them were no longer in the area when crews arrived.

About an hour earlier, a fire was reported near Fall River Fish Hatchery that had started to burn into the trees when crews arrived. Clark said fast work held that fire at about a quarter-acre in size. The cause of that fire was under investigation.

Officials reminded recreational users of public lands that use of any fireworks or exploding targets on Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands is prohibited.

Police scanner frequencies were full of reports of fireworks complaints, from the Dry Canyon of Redmond to Rock Creek Campground and Coyote Butte. Some sparked fires in brush or trees that were quickly extinguished.

There were many more fireworks-related complaints on the Fourth, as illegal fireworks were ignited in many places, a few that apparently started small fires.