Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Zach Osborne wants Butte residents to have plenty of fun over the 4th of July holiday. He’s also hoping all will be smart and take the proper precautions when it comes to fireworks.
When lighting fireworks, the fire chief said it is imperative that they be lit in an open area.
“Be sure the fireworks are launched away from any grass or vegetation,” said Osborne. “We want people to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Osborne also emphasized the necessity of adult supervision. He’s hoping that adults always accompany children when lighting fireworks and recommends keeping buckets of water readily available or a hose ready in case weeds or grass catch fire.
The fire chief doesn’t anticipate too many fires, though.
“We have been pretty fortunate with some decent rainstorms keeping the grounds moist these past few days and the temperatures have not been super high yet,” said Osborne.
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Thankful that the holiday will have come and gone, it’s the next week that worries the fire chief.
“Looking at the extended forecast, we’re looking at temps in the upper 80s and windy,” he said. “That will dry that ground up pretty quickly.”
At present, there are no fire restrictions for Butte-Silver Bow County, but that could change by late July or early August.
“That’s when we may have to reevaluate those restrictions,” he said.
One restriction Osborne expects to implement in the next couple of weeks is a ban on burning slash piles within city limits.
That ban will probably come because of a recommendation given by officials with the U.S. Forest Service and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
“We always work with the Forest Service and DNRC and they always give us updates on burning and whether we should put restrictions within the city limits,” said Osborne.
