LOGAN — Firefighters are again asking for people to understand how dangerous fireworks are right now after a grass fire early Sunday, July 21. The blaze was reported around midnight in the Gray Stone Estates neighborhood in Hyde Park.
Cache County Fire Chief Rod Hammer said multiple departments responded to the scene, near 924 E. 630 North. As the first crews arrived, the fire was moving fast into the backyards of eight homes.
“Firefighters had to roll along with the front of the fire and protect each house as the fire went by until we could get enough resources,” explained Hammer. “They did a spectacular job, holding that fire and keeping it out of the homes.”
As crews worked to set up defensive lines around the homes, others headed up the foothills to stop the fire from heading toward the mountains. The flames moved quickly due to 50 mile per hour wind gusts and tall, dry grass.
Hammer said evidence so far has determined the fire was started by someone setting off a firework. The investigation is ongoing and there are no current suspects.
“Homeowners reported hearing a loud boom right before the fire started,” said Hammer. “Our concern is that people don’t understand how dangerous fireworks are right now.”
Firefighters used over 1,000 feet of hose and water from hydrants and tender trucks to fight the fire. Although no homes were damaged, the fire burned more than five-and-a-half acres before being extinguished.
Hammer said firefighters have been responding to grass fires almost daily during the past several weeks. They have also received reports of fireworks being lite in absurd areas, like Blacksmith Fork Canyon on Sunday night.
“This is just becoming unreasonable,” stated Hammer. “It is so brittle dry up there and so dangerous that it is likely to start a fire. It’s not that it may start a fire but it is likely to start a fire now.”
With Pioneer Day this week, firefighters are asking everyone to attend city firework shows or at least make sure to set off fireworks in permitted areas. Due to current fire restrictions, fireworks are not allowed in unincorporated parts of the county and may only be lit in unrestricted areas from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 22-25 and until midnight on July 24.