Fireworks complaints rise in Clark County in 2014

“Anything that we can do to reduce fire risk is good for our community,” Scarpelli said.

Vancouver firefighters responded to 21 fires that burned vegetation, which means the damage estimate for this year is minimal, she said.

Last year, smoldering fireworks in a garbage can sparked a fire that damaged an attached garage and several vehicles in east Vancouver. In 2012, a fire from smoldering fireworks burned off the roof of a Cascade Park home and destroyed a boat and a van parked in the driveway, contributing to an estimated $278,000 in damages caused by fireworks that year.

Outside city limits

Property in the county didn’t fare as well against the barrage of rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air. Fireworks are the suspected cause of a blaze that heavily damaged a home in Felida early Saturday morning. Around the same time, a cluster-style mailbox in Hazel Dell was damaged by an improvised explosive device. Postal Inspector Scott Helton said there is a “very, very strong” likelihood that the IED was a powerful firework.

Overall, Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said that the volume of calls and violations in the county this year was comparable to 2013.

“That’s unfortunately a normal spike in calls for the fire districts,” he said.

The number of brush and grass fires was about on par with past holidays, said Sarah Mitchelson, Fire District 6’s public education coordinator. The district, which covers Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek and Felida, responded to nine brush fires between 5:22 p.m. and midnight on July 4.

“That’s about typical for us,” Mitchelson said.

A man suffered a gunshot wound to his right forearm Friday night as he celebrated the Fourth of July with friends at his home in the Orchards area. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said that Logan Ostreim, 24, was apparently struck by “a random shot fired by some irresponsible individual celebrating the holiday.”

At PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, an X-ray revealed Ostreim had a bullet from a 9mm handgun lodged under his skin. It was surgically removed and Ostreim is expected to make a full recovery.

Other hospital visits

Ostreim wasn’t the only person injured during the July 4th revelry. The emergency department at PeaceHealth treated nine fireworks-related injuries during the holiday weekend, spokeswoman Michelle Halfhill said. The volume of patients at the hospital’s emergency department during that three-day period was about the same as normal.

The number of patients coming to the emergency room at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center actually dipped on the Fourth of July, said spokesman Brian Willoughby. Three people came in with injuries related to fireworks, including someone with a significant hand injury. Willoughby said people with less severe medical issues likely delayed their visit because they were celebrating the holiday. On July 5, more people than usual came into the ER, he said.

Fewer runaway pets

This year’s Fourth of July saw fewer runaway pets. When fireworks go on sale, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington typically sees an uptick in stray animals dropped off at its east Vancouver facility.

“Normally, our dog intake during this week is about double our normal intake, but this year it was pretty much business as usual,” said spokeswoman Denise Barr. “This is the first time we have seen such a significant decrease during this week in several years.”

Barr attributed the low number of incoming animals to the city of Vancouver’s new fireworks restrictions.

“We definitely are happy about the low numbers of animals over the weekend. It’s always challenging to deal with so many dogs and cats in a short time span,” she said. “Plus, frankly, we don’t like to see animals separated from their families.”