Pocatello officials warn residents as summer fire season expands; announce burn ban and stepped-up fireworks enforcement

Pocatello fire and police officials warned residents Tuesday that an expanding wildland-urban interface and earlier, longer fire seasons have increased fire risk, announced a citywide burn restriction starting July 1 and described stepped-up fireworks enforcement and inspections ahead of July Fourth.

The message followed recent local wildland fires and display-related incidents: “The top priority for the Pocatello Fire Department is the preservation of life and property,” Pocatello Fire Chief Ryan O'Hearn said, and officials described a combination of public-education, stand inspections, targeted patrols and citations to reduce fireworks-related fires.

At a town-hall-style city council session, Assistant Chief and city fire marshal Dean Bullock said Pocatello crews responded to 16 fires between June 24 and July 5, and that on the Fourth and the morning of July 5 firefighters investigated seven fires that were related to fireworks. Bullock displayed a photograph of fireworks the department confiscated last year and said the confiscated stock was worth roughly "$8,000 to $10,000." He said one fire that day required the evacuation of a neighborhood. “These fires can happen anywhere in town,” Bullock…