West Richland hears fire district briefing as residents press city to curb aerial fireworks after July 4 blazes

Fire Chief Paul Carlisle of Benton County Fire District 4 briefed the West Richland City Council on the district’s staffing, call volumes and July 4 operations, telling the council the holiday has become the region’s most resource-intensive event and often leaves responders stretched thin.

“The July 4 is the most significant event for the fire district that is human caused or we know it's happening in advance,” Fire Chief Paul Carlisle said, outlining multi‑day staffing plans, overtime use and a four‑year average of roughly 20–21 July‑4 responses in the region. He said the district covers roughly 52 square miles and responds to about 2,200 calls per year, 65–70% of which are EMS related.

The briefing cited a 144% increase in annual call volume from 2010 to 2024 and said last year’s totals included 135 fires, about 1,526 rescue/EMS calls and 375 “other good intent” responses. Carlisle described operational changes used during the holiday, including “category 4” dispatching that sends a single apparatus when regional resources are depleted and reliance on automatic and mutual aid among neighboring departments.

Why it matters: Residents framed the city-level policy…