May showers bring summer fires

The spring rain is a cause for fires in the dry summer heat.

Thanks to a rainy May, the area is very green with a lot of moisture. Although the rain is great for vegetation growth, when all of those plants dry up in the summer sun, they act as fuel for fires.

“When it’s cool and raining, vegetation grows, I’d hate to say it, but like wildfire,” Green River Assistant Fire Chief Mike Liberty said.

When it’s hot and dry, the plants that have grown start to dry out and makes it easier to start fires. When the vegetation dries out, fires spread quickly, especially with wind as a factor.

During dry spring seasons, the scrub vegetation doesn’t grow enough to become a big fire risk. However, in wet seasons such as this year’s spring season, the scrub plants have abundant growth. When the heat and dryness of summer comes, these plants dry out fairly quickly and become the prime setting for fires. One of the primary instigators for fires are lightening strikes.

“During thunder storms, lightning ignites grass and small shrubs,” Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 Assistant Fire Chief Jake Ribordy said. There have been several lightning fires already this year in different areas around the country.

Regardless of the fire danger, fireworks are banned within city limits.

“We encourage people to observe the city firework display, but other than that no fireworks of any kind are allowed within city limits,” Liberty said. This means even the small fireworks such as ground fireworks and sparklers are not allowed.

However, fireworks are legal outside of city limits. Sweetwater County Fire Warden, Mike Bournazian has a few firework tips for those who want to set off fireworks.

People should read all of the cautionary labels before lighting fireworks. A responsible adult should always supervise and never give fireworks to children. Do not drink alcohol while lighting fireworks. Always wear safety glasses. Light one firework at a time and quickly move away from it. Only use fireworks outdoors in an open and clear area. Never relight a dud firework, because it may not be a dud. Instead wait 20 minutes and then soak it in water to ensure it will not go off unexpectedly. Always keep a lot of water nearby such as a bucket of water and a hose.

Do not carry fireworks inside pockets or shoot them into metal or glass containers. Never experiment with homemade fireworks. Lastly, wet the fireworks down and place them in a metal trash can away from buildings and anything combustible until the next day before throwing them out.