Fireworks Blamed For Four Fires

Mon., July 3, 2000

From Staff Reports

Fireworks ignited four fires in two days on the Spokane Indian Reservation, a spokeswoman for the Washington Incident Management Team said Sunday.

“These fields are so dry,” said Cindy Reichelt. “People aren’t used to that.

They’ve been shooting off fireworks all day. We’ve been chasing around fires all day.”

The largest fireworks-ignited blaze started about 10:30 p.m. Saturday near the Spokane River and Sand Creek Falls, Reichelt said.

Fire crews were just heading home after four days fighting the lightning-started Rattlesnake fire that burned 110 acres of the reservation, she said.

Bulldozers dug a line around 75 percent of the Sand Creek Falls fire Saturday night, and helicopters dropped water and planes scattered retardant Sunday morning. The fire was out by nightfall.

Also Sunday, three smaller blazes ignited by fireworks drew attention from firefighters. One started near Ford, another near the community of West End, and another near the Two Rivers Casino.

All three burned about an acre each before being contained, Reichelt said.

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Fireworks Blamed For Four Fires

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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