On the Fire Watch. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

This weekend is the 4^th and now is a good time to review your strategy in case of fire. Already a number of small fires have been reported around the state including one in Snohomish County near Lake Stevens. A house was destroyed by a fire caused by fireworks near Bothell. Davie Kindell, Fire Prevention Team Leader for the Department of Natural Resources Team 4 is working with groups in south central Washington to educate and prepare them.

KINDELL: Basically we do a lot of posting regarding burn bans that are in place. There will be recreators obviously coming in for the 4^th of July. With all the tribal stands that’s another issue. People come into the area to buy fireworks so fireworks are a big issue here.

She says they work with the tribal fireworks stand operators and others about where and how to safely use the fireworks.

KINDELL: Some of the areas in the Klickitat County have an area that they describe as a safer area to use fireworks. Our preference would be that they go to a professional display and watch the fireworks but there are still a lot of people who enjoy using them as part of their celebration and we understand that’s just part of our heritage here and people are going to continue to do that. We focus on personal accountability. Whether it’s guns or fireworks, whatever we focus on accountability.

More tomorrow.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.