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Sprinkles help knock down grass fire By JILL BRISKEY GOLD HILL - A light sprinkling of rain helped firefighters knock out a blaze that ripped across a grassy hillside Wednesday afternoon. According to Deputy Fire Marshal Don Hickman of Fire District 3, the fire was apparently ignited by legal fireworks that had been set off near Seventh Avenue in Gold Hill. "That's what we'll be looking at," he said, and pointed to a burnt-out, "Ground Bloom" style of fireworks at the base of the blackened hillside. The fire, which started around 4 p.m., burned approximately a half-acre. Oregon Department of Forestry crews worked with Fire District 3 to quickly contain the blaze. No structures were damaged. Jackson County sheriff deputies were called to the scene. Although police have no suspects, investigators may be able to track the guilty party through a pager found at the scene. Firefighters across the Rogue Valley have been hustling to keep up with reports of irresponsible or illegal use of fireworks since vendors began selling their wares Saturday. Monday, Medford fire crews extinguished a structure fire at an apartment complex in the 400 block of West Fourth Street, which caused $35,000 in damage. Three occupants were forced to find other housing because of damage. Following an investigation, two boys were lodged in the Jackson County juvenile facility after being charged Wednesday with first-degree arson. Medford police allege the youngsters, ages 13 and 14, placed or tossed lighted fireworks into the apartment. One boy is accused of setting another fire Sunday in the same location that wasn't reported to authorities. Possession or use of fireworks in Medford and Ashland city limits is illegal. "It's kind of like Prohibition. You can only do so much," Medford Police Lt. Mike Moran said. "Everybody does what they can to stop it." Monday afternoon, Fire District 3 crews extinguished a quarter-acre grass fire in the 8000 block of Hale Way, White City, that was apparently started by a child playing with fireworks. Fire District 3 crews rushed to White City Elementary School Tuesday night after an alarm sounded. According to Hickman, somebody had altered legal fireworks and inserted the materials into stuffed animals. Fire personnel in Talent and Ashland have also responded to several complaints regarding older children playing with fireworks. "I can guarantee that we'll have more calls as the weather heats up," Ashland Fire Captain Bob Cockell. "One day at 85 degrees and all this vegetation will dry out, all the effect of the rain will be gone." Fireworks are prohibited in Ashland city limits. Cockell said fireworks cannot be used in high risk areas with dry vegetation and between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m. "Common sense would dictate that," he said. "There's too much risk." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.