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Chief's fireworks set off sparks By DANI DODGE Bob Smithee wouldn't let his daughter set off fireworks on the Fourth of July - the family lives within Medford's city limits, where it's illegal. Instead, he, his girlfriend and his daughter packed into his Bronco to watch others explode pyrotechnics outside Medford. But before they got two blocks from their home, their attention was diverted by a showy spray of 5-foot-high green sparks. They drove up the street and saw Fire District 5 Fire Chief Dan Marshall illuminated by the brilliant colors exploding in his Medford driveway. Smithee snapped a picture. "I don't mean to be a party pooper, but when I have to answer to my kids and then see a supposedly responsible public official setting off fireworks illegally, it's pretty crazy," Smithee said. "Am I supposed to say 'No, you can't set off fireworks, let's watch at the fire marshal's house?' " Called at his Fire District 5 office in Talent Thursday, Marshall was surprised by the allegation. "We had a few little kids over," he said. "We had a few sparklers." But told of the photo, Marshall acknowledged there may have been some bigger bursts. "We probably did have a fountain," he said. "It's technically a violation and not a great thing to be seen. Certainly the spirit of the law is not busting kids for sparklers. ... "But it's virtually unenforceable. Everyone is out doing it and it's a war zone." Medford police responded to 53 complaints of fireworks in the city limits on the Fourth of July. The number of tickets issued and fireworks confiscated was unavailable Thursday. "We aren't breaking down doors to seize illegal fireworks - we have bigger fish to fry," said Lt. Tim George. "It's an infraction. You shouldn't be doing it, and if you do it you take the chance of being caught." Medford's law against fireworks in city limits applies even to sparklers, George said. Medford fire spokesman Larry Anderson didn't know what to say when asked about Marshall setting off fireworks within city limits. "Wow. Hmm. I don't know. Um. That's not a good thing," Anderson said. "I wouldn't want to make that mistake." Marshall, who has been fire chief of rural Fire District 5 since 1985, said he wanted to be clear he's not cavalier about fireworks laws. "I take my job seriously and the fireworks seriously, but it's a fact the ones I was using were used in a safe and sane manner and supervised by an adult and there was no negligence on our part," he said. Albert Gray, an elected member of the Fire District 5 board of directors, said Marshall is a "hard-working, great chief." Although he didn't think the board would severely punish Marshall, he does plan to give him a talking-to. "I don't think it's OK if fireworks aren't allowed," Gray said. "Anyone short of Jesus shouldn't be allowed to do it. "He hung on the cross so there's extra privileges for Him - but I don't think there's extra privileges for the rest of us." Smithee says he obeyed the law not because of the potential $150 fine, but because he wanted to set an example for his daughter and was concerned about the summer's extremely dry conditions. He's a bit angry that Marshall doesn't share his concern: "It seemed ironic there is less fire danger in his yard than mine." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.