Not a time to play with fire 1

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--> --> Not a time to play with fire A fire that could have easily raged out of control in an Ashland hillside neighborhood this past week serves as a critical reminder that common sense must prevail this summer amid dangerous wildfire conditions. A home is gone, its elderly occupants now faced with the horrible task of sifting through ashes to try to salvage the charred remains from a lifetime of memories. A child and his family, meanwhile, bear the burden of an Ashland Fire and Rescue investigation, plus the unsettling knowledge that a moment of carelessness could have resulted in a major tragedy for local homeowners. A firefighter also is recovering from being electrocuted while trying to help quell the blaze. All these facts add up to one simple truth: Taking even the smallest chance with fire this summer is a no-win situation. It's been in the news for months now, how local forests are tinder-dry from a winter of below normal precipitation. Fire danger is high and bordering on extreme in the areas where our homes meet these forests. Caution is the watchword for all residents. So it's disappointing to learn Friday's fire was ignited by fireworks. The city's fire marshal and Ashland Fire Chief Keith Woodley were crystal clear in stating the weeks before July 4 that fireworks were simply too dangerous this year. While Ashland skirted the Fourth holiday with only one fireworks-related blaze near a local hotel, it's inconceivable to us that people would continue to use or allow their children to use fireworks. None of us wants to see our homes burned to the ground due to recklessness or simple negligence. But it can and will happen someday if we continue to play with fire. It is imperative we do everything possible to prevent Friday's mishap from reoccurring. And the first step would be to put those fireworks in cold storage for the rest of the summer. Not doing so is only asking for a catastrophe. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing