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Playing with fireworks By Sean Wolfe Ashland Daily Tidings It happens every year. The weather gets hot, the brush dries out, and before long, up go the firework tents. While wildfire danger for Ashland remains moderate, fire officials say they remain concerned that unsafe use of fireworks could touch off blazes locally. Kandi Robbins of Ashland struggles with an armload of fireworks she purchased Wednesday at the Discount Fireworks Superstore on Highway 99. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA "The Fourth is always a busy time of year," noted Ashland Fire and Rescue Capt. Bob Cockell. "What we do is disperse throughout the city so we're able to respond to anything that might happen." Cockell's concerns are echoed by Dan Thorpe, Medford Unit Forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry. "On Monday, fireworks went on sale, and we had a fire Monday afternoon caused by fireworks off of Highway 62. It was fairly small, only a quarter-acre, but it highlights the danger," Thorpe said. "This time of year, every year, we're on pins and needles because people are taking fire into dangerous areas, and we know from experience that we get a few fires every year around this time. So what we'll do is have our crews on an adjusted schedule to take us into the evening hours, where people are more likely to use fireworks, and local fire departments will do similar activities," Thorpe said. Thorpe added that as long as people use fireworks responsibly, it is possible to mix patriotism and fire safety. "People need to realize that while this is a hazardous activity, you can reduce fire danger to almost nothing by doing it on cement, gravel, or green grass, and have a bucket and a hose handy, along with adult supervision," Thorpe said. In the meantime, proprietors of firework tents just outside of Ashland on Highway 99 and at the Talent Wal-Mart parking lot report that sales have been slow thus far. On Wednesday in Talent, Shady Cove resident Julie Gaines and her three children were fanning themselves in their vendor tent, awaiting customers. Gaines, who works as a registered nurse for Providence Hospital in Medford, said this was her first year selling fireworks. She and her family hope to raise enough money over the next week to buy an all-terrain vehicle for their kids . "The kids wanted a 4-wheeler, and we wanted a project, and this is what we came up with," Gaines said. "We were told this location made more money in years past than the others. It's hard to tell how it will do this year - this is only our third day. But when we went to our orientation, we were told that you make 90 percent of your money in the last three days up to the Fourth." Despite the obvious conflict between Independence Day celebrations and fire safety, Gaines said she hopes her customers would be responsible enough to not misuse her wares. "I think the risk of it - as long as you're responsible - the risk of starting a fire is minimal. But people need to use their common sense," Gaines said. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -