CLARKSTON – Fireworks-related incidents kept firefighters and crews in Asotin County busy with grass fires, the loss of a home, and a man being raced to the hospital with facial injuries.
In a statement from Asotin County Fire District #1, between 7:00 p.m. and about 12:30 a.m. Asotin County Fire District #1 responded to 9 fireworks-related incidents. One resulted in a fully involved structure Fire on Poplar Street in Clarkston. Firefighters were on patrol in the area of a reported home on fire and were on location within a couple of minutes, but the home was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Clarkston, Asotin, and Lewiston were all working to keep the fire from spreading to other nearby homes
While the home was burning, medic crews were dispatched to a man who had been hit in the face with a mortar-type firework near Lincoln Middle School. He was taken to the hospital with facial injuries.
Garfield County Fire District was calling out for help for a home on fire in Pomeroy. City of Asotin Fire sent a crew to aid Garfield County. The cause of that fire is believed to be fireworks-related.
Firefighters stayed on scene overnight on the Poplar fire and will continue working through the morning.
Asotin County Fire District Chief Noel Hardin said Lewis Clark Valley Firefighters did an incredible job to minimize damage. He said it’s unfortunate that 4th of July Celebrations can wreak so much havoc on a community.