4 July 2013
Celebrating the Fourth of July Calls for Caution
For many, the Fourth of July in Florence traditionally ends with the community fireworks show over the Siuslaw River in Old Town. But for a lot of people it begins in late June and continues just as long as their own personal fireworks hold out.
Siuslaw Valley Fire Chief John Buchanan prefers the former… but for those who indulge in the latter… he says use care. There should always be an adult present and dispose of the spent fireworks properly.
John Buchanan – “Put it in the bucket, have water in the bucket, cool it down. Just don’t let the children go out because they are dangerous, it is a dry year and it would not be that out of character to have a major fire.”
Fireworks of any kind are prohibited in all public parks, on the beach and in the dunes. They’ve also been banned on the Port of Siuslaw property as well as most public rights of way in Old Town Florence.
Buchanan says no matter where you may be lighting them… look around and make sure there is no dry grass or anything nearby that might catch a spark.
Assistance for Burned Out Family
Several veteran and community groups are coming together to help a Florence man and his grandmother who lost all their belongings in a house fire early Tuesday morning.
Steve Scott carried his grandmother, 81-year old Katherine Nixon from the fire, leaving behind everything they owned. The Red Cross responded and was able to provide the two with temporary lodging assistance and some clothing, but all else was lost. Scott is a combat veteran who also lost his son, Brice Scott, to the war in Afghanistan two years ago. Friends and associates are pitching in to collect money to help him get back on his feet… they’ve set up a benefit account in his name at U.S. Bank in Florence.
Lessons Learned Long Time Coming
Dave Beck said the news that 19 firefighters in Arizona were killed fighting a wildfire Sunday afternoon was devastating.
Dave Beck – “I cried. It brings tears to your eyes because you may have worked with these people, the hotshot crews and it’s just this family of 20. It’s a real family and that family spreads out to the entire firefighting community.”
Beck, with 32-years of wildland fire fighting experience with the U.S. Forest Service still keeps his bag packed in the spring and summer; ready to help set up fire camp and manage some of the larger forest fires in the west. He said the lessons that will be learned from the Yarnell, Arizona fire will be a long time coming.
Dave Beck – “It may be years. Prime example was the Prineville Hotshots getting killed in Colorado. 14 years ago, I think, and they’ve just now come out with some final information on that. It’s called Everyone Comes Home.”
It was actually 19-years ago that nine members of a Hotshot fire crew from Prineville; and five other firefighters; were killed when the wind shifted and they were overrun by flames on Storm King Mountain in Colorado. The final lessons from the most recent tragedy could be nearly that long in coming as well. Beck talked about his experiences and the effects of the loss of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots yesterday afternoon on KCST’s Our Town.
