This week we saw record setting temperatures throughout our region.  Northern slopes in our region which were drying out went beyond and we have now come to a fairly critical level as we venture into the 4^th of July weekend.

This week the Kootenai County Fire Chiefs and the Idaho Department of Lands raised the fire danger to HIGH in all areas of Kootenai County.

The Sherriff held a press conference with the support of all Kootenai County law enforcement agencies and fire departments urging the public to seek out professional fireworks shows this year instead of putting on your own personal shows with friends and family.

If you do choose to light fireworks with your friends and family, please remember that only fireworks which contain the Safe and Sane marking, or were sold from local vendors stand with an issued permit are allowed.  These stands and their products are approved and tested by local fire department personnel.

Illegal aerial fireworks can be very traumatic for pets and many of our combat war veterans. So please be respectful of your neighbors.  And have we mentioned that aerial fireworks are ILLEGAL in ALL parts of IDAHO.

Fireworks are not allowed in any City Parks and are NEVER allowed in campsites or on all federal public lands.

Fireworks account for 19,500 fires annually and almost half of the fires that started on July fourth were caused by fireworks, per the NFPA.

If a fire is caused by your release of fireworks, call 911 immediately. 

Please also remember that the end of a sparkler can burn at a temperature of 1,200 degrees and should not actually be used by children as 36% of emergency room visits are for children under the age of 15, according the CPSC, and over a quarter of those were for burns.

If you do choose to light off Safe and Sane fireworks here are a few tips:

• Only responsible and sober adults should be lighting fireworks
• Ensure that you have a twenty-foot diameter clear area, mineral soil or pavement, around your fireworks.
• Never try to re-light a “Dud”, wait ten minutes then place the Dud in a pail of water.
• All fireworks should be soaked in a pail of water before discarding, we recommend overnight soaking.
• Never place fireworks into a garbage can until they have been thoroughly wet down.
• Always have a shovel and water readily available to extinguish any fires you may notice
• Call 911 immediately if a fire cannot be immediately extinguished.
• Any unused fireworks should be placed in a pail of water before discarding them in the trash.